Yokohama-e: Western Encounters in 19th-Century Japanese Art

The year 1854 marked a significant turning point in Japanese history with the signing of the “Kanagawa Treaty,” followed by the beginning of the Meiji era in 1868. This period witnessed Japan opening its doors to the external world, engaging in multifaceted exchanges with the West across various realms, including culture, commerce, and industry. Against this historical backdrop, Japan, after signing the “Japan-U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce” in 1858, went on to sign treaties with European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the Netherlands, collectively promoting commercial relations. These five nations came to be known as the Treaty Powers, and they opened ports like Kanagawa (Yokohama), Nagasaki, Niigata, and Kobe to foreign nations.

Before the signing of the “Kanagawa Treaty,” Japan had limited contact with foreigners, harboring a deep curiosity about their technologies and ways of life. This curiosity sparked enthusiasm among ukiyo-e artists to explore new themes. Ukiyo-e artworks vividly depicted scenes of Japanese encountering iron ships, carriages, locomotives, steamboats, and hot air balloons for the first time. With the opening of ports, overseas foreigners and the affluent swiftly poured into Yokohama, leading to the flourishing development of this town. This societal transformation piqued the immense interest of the Japanese people. In an era of limited information dissemination, ukiyo-e became the optimal medium for conveying the essence of Yokohama. It is said that there are over 800 ukiyo-e artworks themed around Yokohama, primarily concentrated in publications between 1860 and 1861.

The world depicted in Yokohama ukiyo-e is akin to a gateway through time, revealing the profound curiosity of the Japanese populace towards foreigners and their culture during that era. With the opportunity presented by the opening of Yokohama in 1859, the city became a hub for the mutual exchange of Eastern and Western cultures, simultaneously igniting the passion of ukiyo-e artists to portray exotic scenes.

During that time, the arrival of foreigners stirred a sense of novelty and astonishment among the Japanese, a curiosity that permeated every artwork of Yokohama ukiyo-e. With elegant strokes and unique perspectives, ukiyo-e artists vividly captured the international nexus that Yokohama became after its port opening, showcasing the daily lives of foreigners in Yokohama, including their attire, customs, and everyday experiences in a foreign land. These works not only presented exotic landscapes on canvas but also offered a glimpse into the Japanese people’s fascination with the unknown world.

Ukiyo-e, as the predominant form of popular art at that time, introduced foreigners and their cultures into everyday life. Yokohama-e, where “e” in Japanese signifies images, witnessed an influx of previously unseen foreigners after the opening of the port. These individuals, with distinct features, attire, and lifestyles, captivated the curiosity of the local populace. Depicting foreigners based on nationality, much like portraying celebrities, engaging in activities such as horseback riding, writing at desks, baking bread, photography, dog walking, and traveling. Through these works, viewers gain insight into the societal acceptance and assimilation of diverse cultures after the port’s opening. The brushstrokes of Yokohama-e vividly outline a visual narrative centered around foreigners, evoking a sense of exoticism unique to that era.