A Glance at Miyosaki, Yokohama - Utagawa Yoshimori

A 1861 woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshimori depicting the arrival of foreign merchants and steamships at the port of Yokohama.

This woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshimori, produced in 1861, captures the cultural collision occurring in Japan following the opening of Yokohama port to foreign trade. As a student of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Yoshimori belonged to a group of artists who specialised in Yokohama-e, a genre dedicated to documenting the arrival of Westerners, their steamships, and their unfamiliar customs.

The composition presents a bustling scene at the Miyosaki waterfront. Foreign merchants, identifiable by their top hats and facial hair, are depicted on horseback alongside Japanese figures. The presence of a large steamship in the background, complete with a prominent funnel and flags, serves as a marker of the technological shift transforming the harbour. The artist uses a palette of blues, reds, and ochres to define the figures and the maritime environment. The print reflects the curiosity of the Japanese public during the Bakumatsu period, as they attempted to process the rapid influx of international influence.

Yoshimori employs the traditional woodblock techniques of the Utagawa school, yet the subject matter is distinctly modern for the era. The figures are arranged in a manner that allows for the observation of both Western attire and traditional Japanese dress. The inclusion of cartouches with Japanese text provides context for the various nationalities represented, including British and American visitors. This work functions as a visual record of a specific historical moment, documenting the intersection of two disparate worlds. The print remains a valuable example of how Japanese artists interpreted the arrival of global commerce and the subsequent changes to the urban environment of Yokohama.