English Woman, Chinese Dog, and Sheep (Eikoku fujin, karainu, rashiyamen), from the series "People of the Five Nations (Gokakoku jinbutsu zue)"
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32498
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Utagawa Hirosh II (Shigenobu), a talented successor to his master Hiroshige I, captured the exotic allure of global encounters. Created in 1860 as part of the series *People of the Five (Gokakoku jinbutsu zue)*, *English Woman, Chinese, and Sheep (Eikoku fujin, karainu, rashiyamen)* is a color woodblock print in the large oban format. This depicts an elegant English woman accompanied by a distinctive Chinese dog and sheep, blending Western and Asian elements in a whimsical tableau that reflects Japan's growing fascination with the outside world. Produced during the late Edo period, just before the Meiji Restoration, the print embodies the era's cultural curiosity amid Japan's gradual opening to foreign influences following Commodore Perry's arrival in 1853. Hiroshige II's mastery of woodblock techniques shines through in the rich, layered colors achieved via intricate carving and precise printing, evoking the ukiyo-e tradition of "pictures of the floating world." The series likely portrayed figures from Japan, China, Britain, America, and the Netherlands, highlighting stereotypes and novelties that captivated Edo audiences. Today, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print offers a charming window into a pivotal moment of cross-cultural exchange, reminding us how art bridged worlds long before globalization.
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) · 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...