Igirisujin|英吉利人|Englishmen

Art Historical Context

Created around 1862 by Utagawa Yoshik, a master of the Utagawa school within Japan's ukiyo-e tradition *Igirisujin* (Englishmen) is a vibrant woodblock print capturing the exotic allure of Western visitors during a pivotal era. Measuring 14 x 9¾ inches, this ink and color on paper work exemplifies the collaborative artistry of woodblock printing: carvers, printers, and publishers working together to produce affordable, mass-reproducible images that brought the floating world of everyday life—and novelty—into homes. The print likely depicts British men, complete with firearms, flags, flowers, and perhaps accompanying women, reflecting Japan's fascination with foreigners amid the Bakumatsu period's upheavals. Following Commodore Perry's 1853 arrival, ports like Yokohama opened to Western trade, sparking the "Yokohama-e" genre. Yoshikazu's precise lines, bold colors, and dynamic compositions highlight cultural curiosity and tension as Japan grappled with modernization on the cusp of the Meiji Restoration. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department (gift of Lincoln Kirstein, 1959), this piece offers a window into 19th-century cross-cultural encounters, blending Japanese aesthetic finesse with the thrill of the unfamiliar.

About the Artist

Utagawa Yoshikazu · 1845–1870

Utagawa Yoshikazu (active circa 1850–1870) was a Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print artist who came of age during one of the most dynamic periods in Japanese history — the twilight of the Edo period and the dawning of the Meiji era. Born and active in Edo (present-day Tokyo), he trained under the celebrated master Utagawa Kuniyoshi, one of the towering figures of the Utagawa school renowned for his ...