Sketch of a High-Ranking Officer's Portrait, from the Great United States of America (Kita Amerika dai gasshukokujin, Jokan shozo no utsushi
1854
Medium
Woodblock print; oban
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
14858
Art Historical Context
This intriguing 1854 woodblock print, titled *Sketch of a High-Ranking Officer's Portrait, from the Great United States of America* (Kita Amerika dai gasshukokujin, Jokan shozo no utsushi), captures a moment of cross-cultural curiosity. Produced as an oban-sized sheet—the standard large format for ukiyo-e prints, roughly 10 by 15 inches—it is a faithful Japanese copy (utsushi) of a formal portrait of a high-ranking American officer. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, it exemplifies the vibrant tradition of woodblock printing, where intricate carvings on multiple ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...