Small Box
17th century
Medium
Lacquer with gold and inlay
Classification
lacquerware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23476
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The proliferation of foreign faces in Edo-era prints has its roots in the appearance of Portuguese and Spanish “Southern Barbarians” in Japan in the mid-16th century and Dutch and English “Red-Hairs” in the early 17th. The “Southern Barbarian” figures decorating this box are shown wearing Portuguese fashions—tight-fitting jackets and ballooning trousers festooned with ruffles—which are depicted within the conventions of Japanese art. Fierce eyes and exaggerated noses complete the ensemble of ali...
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...