A Dutch Group - Utagawa Yoshikazu

A woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshikazu depicting a Dutch family in Yokohama, capturing the cultural curiosity of the late Edo period.

This woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshikazu belongs to the genre known as Yokohama-e, which emerged during the late Edo period. These prints documented the arrival of foreigners in the port of Yokohama following the opening of Japan to international trade. The work depicts a Dutch family engaged in domestic activities, providing a Japanese perspective on Western life.

The composition features a man operating a butter churn, a woman holding a child, and another seated figure. The artist employs the traditional woodblock techniques of the Utagawa school, yet the subject matter reflects the curiosity surrounding the customs, clothing, and technology of the Dutch traders. The figures are rendered with the characteristic stylised features of the period, while the inclusion of specific Western objects, such as the churn and the stove, serves as a visual record of the cultural exchange occurring at the time.

Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and produced numerous prints capturing the appearance of foreigners. This particular image is notable for its focus on the private, domestic sphere of the Dutch residents, rather than the more common depictions of military or naval personnel. The colour palette remains consistent with the mid-19th-century woodblock aesthetic, utilising flat areas of colour and clear outlines to define the figures against a simplified background. The print offers a glimpse into the historical fascination with the 'other' during a period of rapid transition in Japanese society.