Amerika Washinton fu|City of Washington in America

Art Historical Context

**City of Washington in America** (*Amerika Washington-fu*), a vibrant triptych woodblock print by Utagawa Yosha, captures a Japanese artist's imaginative vision of an American urban scene in the 1st month of 1862. Yoshitora, a master the Utagawa school within ukiyo-e tradition, in depictions of foreigners and exotic locales during Japan's late Edo period (1615–1868). This work, composed of three matching sheets each measuring 14¼ × 9⅝ inches, uses ink and color on paper to evoke bustling streets filled with men, women, and horse-drawn carriages, blending meticulous detail with lively composition. Printed at the height of Japan's "opening" to the West—sparked by Commodore Perry's 1853 arrival—the triptych reflects growing curiosity about distant lands like the United States amid political upheaval. Such *yokohama-e* prints, named for the treaty port Yokohama, popularized Western imagery drawn from imported photographs, maps, or traveler tales, offering Edo-era viewers a window into imagined American life. The woodblock technique, involving skilled carvers, printers, and publishers, allowed for bold colors and dynamic perspectives across the panoramic format. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art department (Bequest of William S. Lieberman, 2005), this piece highlights ukiyo-e's role in bridging cultures, turning global events into accessible art for everyday audiences.

About the Artist

Utagawa Yoshitora · 1845–1880

Utagawa Yoshitora (歌川 芳虎), also known by his art names Ichimōsai, Mōsai, and Kinchōrō, was a prolific ukiyo-e artist born in Edo (modern Tokyo), where he trained under the renowned Utagawa Kuniyoshi, recognized as his oldest pupil. Little is known of his early life, which remains sparsely documented, but his earliest works include illustrations for the book *Story of Karasu Kanzaemon’s Loyalty* in...