Hakurai taizo no zu|View of the Large Imported Elephant

Art Historical Context

In 1863, during the final years of Japan's Edo period (16151868), ukiyo-e artist Tag (Utagawa) Yoshimori captured a rare spectacle in his woodblock print *Hakurai taizo no zu (View of the Large Imported Elephant)*. Part of the celebrated Utagawa school, Yoshimori specialized in vibrant prints depicting contemporary life, news, and curiosities. This *nishiki-e* (brocade picture)—inked and hand-colored on paper—measures about 14¾ × 10¼ inches, showcasing the meticulous woodblock technique where multiple blocks created rich layers of color and fine detail. The artwork immortalizes the arrival of a massive imported elephant, an extraordinary event that drew crowds in isolationist Japan. Elephants were virtually unknown in the country, making this beast a symbol of exotic wonder and the encroaching influence of foreign trade amid growing Western contacts. Men gather around the animal, their expressions blending awe and amusement, reflecting public fascination with global novelties just before the Meiji Restoration upended traditional society. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department (gift of Lincoln Kirstein, 1959), this print offers a vivid window into late Edo culture—where art swiftly documented life's thrills, blending everyday realism with theatrical flair. A delightful glimpse of history's surprises!

About the Artist

Taguchi (Utagawa) Yoshimori · 1830–1884

**Taguchi Yoshimori (Utagawa Yoshimori), 1830–1884** Born in 1830 as Taguchi Sakuzō, Utagawa Yoshimori emerged as a talented ukiyo-e print designer during Japan's turbulent late Edo period. Little is known of his early life, but he trained under the renowned Utagawa Kuniyoshi, a master of the Utagawa school whose dynamic compositions and innovative themes profoundly shaped Yoshimori's style. Adop...