Englishmen (Igirisujin)

Art Historical Context

**Englishmen (Igirisujin)**, created by Utagawa Yoshazu in 1861, is a vibrant color woodblock print in the oban format—a standard large size (about 10 x 14 inches) popular in ukiyo-e art. Yoshikazu, a prolific artist from the renowned Utagawa school, in scenes of daily life, theater, and current events. This print exemplifies the intricate woodblock technique: artisans carved separate blocks for each color, layering vivid hues like reds, blues, and golds to achieve striking depth and realism from a single sheet of paper. Produced during Japan's late Edo period, just before the Meiji Restoration, the artwork captures a pivotal moment of cultural encounter. After centuries of sakoku (national seclusion), treaty ports like Yokohama opened to Western traders in the 1850s. "Igirisujin" (Englishmen) reflects the "yokohama-e" genre, where Japanese artists depicted foreigners—their clothing, customs, and ships—with curiosity, humor, and occasional satire. These prints fueled public fascination with the exotic West amid growing globalization. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this piece highlights ukiyo-e's role as a dynamic mass medium, bridging art and journalism. It invites visitors to ponder how everyday prints documented Japan's transformation from isolation to modernity.

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 ...