諸国名所百景　肥前長崎唐船の津|Dutch and Chinese Ships in the Harbor at Nagasaki in Hizen Province

Art Historical Context

In the bustling harbor of Nagasaki, Hizen Province, Utagawa Hiroshige captures a vibrant scene of international exchange in this 1859 woodblock print from series *One Hundred Famous Views of the Provinces*. Titled *Dutch and Chinese Ships in the Harbor at Nagasaki in Hizen Province*, the depicts towering foreign vessels adorned with flags and eagle motifs, their sails billowing against a dynamic sky. Hiroshige II, a pupil of the master landscape artist Hiroshige I, skillfully blends meticulous detail with atmospheric perspective, evoking the ukiyo-e tradition of "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated everyday beauty and transience. Created during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), this print reflects the era's sakoku isolationist policy, which restricted foreign trade to Nagasaki's Dejima island. Here, Dutch and Chinese ships symbolize Japan's limited yet crucial links to the outside world, just a decade before the Meiji Restoration opened the nation fully. The woodblock medium—ink and color layered on paper—allowed for mass production, making such vivid scenes accessible to commoners and fueling a global fascination with Japanese art. Measuring 14¼ × 9¾ inches, this Metropolitan Museum of Art treasure invites viewers to ponder the harmonious blend of local and exotic worlds, where eagles soar as emblems of distant powers amid Japan's serene shores. A testament to Hiroshige II's legacy, it beautifully preserves a pivotal moment in history.

About the Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige II · 1826–1869

Utagawa Hiroshige II, born Suzuki Chinpei in 1826, was one of the most accomplished ukiyo-e artists of mid-nineteenth century Japan. He entered the studio of the celebrated landscape master Utagawa Hiroshige I — known for his iconic series "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" — and proved himself the most talented of the elder artist's few students. So highly regarded was the young pupil that...