The events which happened over the period from arrival of Perry in 1853 to open of Yokohama Port six years after it let Japanese people hold much interest in foreign countries. In such times when journalism played an important role, painting which could appeal visually was considered an effective mean, publishers competed publishing Ukiyo-e depicted Yokohama. This is the background of “Yokohama-e”.
Most depicted in the beginning were so-called “Foreigners’ customs and manners”. Japanese people had an interest in oversea products they had never seen such as exotic costumes and belongings. However, in the times when making a contact with foreigners was not easy for common Japanese people, all of the painters didn’t see such things actually, so many artworks were depicted referring to illustration inserted in newspaper issued oversea.
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As an example of Yokohama-e in the initial term, “Kanagawa Yokohama Shinkaiko Zu (=Picture of New Port in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref.)” drawn by Utagawa Sadahide, with a changing seal dated February 1860 is known well. From the date to 1872, Yokohama-e kept being drawn for about twelve years. Over the half artworks were produced intensively in 1860 and 1861, then the number reduced as the boom faded away.
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Also, subjects of painting changed from western people to landscape of Yokohama or western-style residences, and the former began to be drawn in only in the background of the latter. In Meiji period, Japanese government positively introduced foreign products such as a steam locomotive, at the same time, Japanese people’s interest transferred from Yokohama to Western culture which they could incorporate into life. As of this, the style of Yokohama-e disappeared practically (=”Kaika-e” appeared in exchange).
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Yoshitora is the painter who drew Yokohama-e most, leaving over 150 artworks behind as long as evidenced today, and Yoshikazu and Sadahide are also considered to have drawn over 100 Yokohama-e respectively. Yokohama-e which was intensively published like an enthusiastic transmissible phenomenon can be said an interesting material which shows how Japanese people saw other countries from the end of Bakufu to Meiji period.
Text by Tashiro Yuichiro
Text by Tashiro Yuichiro
