An English Soldier (Igirisu) - Utagawa Hiroshige II

A 1861 woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II depicting a British soldier, part of the Yokohama-e genre documenting foreign visitors in Japan.

This woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige II, dating from 1861, belongs to the genre known as Yokohama-e. These prints emerged following the opening of the port of Yokohama to foreign trade in 1859. They document the curiosity of the Japanese public regarding the appearance, customs, and technology of Western visitors. The print depicts a British soldier, identified by the cartouche in the upper right corner, standing in a rural setting.

The soldier is dressed in a dark blue uniform with gold buttons and epaulettes, carrying a rifle over his shoulder and a sword at his hip. He smokes a pipe, a detail often included in these prints to characterise the foreign subject. Beside him stands a sheep, an animal that was relatively unfamiliar in Japan at the time. In the background, a wooden rack holds hanging game, perhaps intended to represent the dietary habits of the foreigners. The composition is typical of the period, combining traditional Japanese printmaking techniques with the documentation of exotic subjects. The artist employs a clear, linear style with flat areas of colour, characteristic of the Ukiyo-e tradition. The inclusion of Japanese calligraphy to the left of the figure provides context, though the interpretation of the foreigner remains filtered through the artist's own cultural perspective. This work offers a glimpse into the period of rapid social change in Japan, as the nation began to engage with global powers. The print serves as a historical record of the initial encounters between the Japanese populace and Western military personnel during the late Edo period.