Japanese Works of Art - 17 May 2022
UTAGAWA SADAHIDE (C.1807-1873)
UTAGAWA SADAHIDE (C.1807-1873)
YOSHIKAZU UTAGAWA (ACT.1850-70)
EDO PERIOD, C.1861
Three Japanese Yokohama-e woodblock prints depicting Westerners, two from Utagawa Sadahide's series 'People of Foreign Nations', the first entitled 'Two Russians in Yokohama', the foreigners with a long-haired goat; the second 'Russians enjoying a Holiday in Yokohama', one holding a telescope; the third print by Yoshikazu Utagawa entitled 'English couple' and depicting the figures with their pet dog, all three oban tate-e, all approx. 37cm x 25.5cm. (3)
Foreigners settled in Yokohama often kept animals as pets and livestock, including dogs, and goats. Sadahide saw them as exotic subjects worth including in his woodblock prints.