Japanese artist’s depiction of Americans during Commodore Perry’s 1854 expedition from the “Black Ship Scroll,” capturing Japan’s first encounter with the West., c. 1853-1854, [1215×831]
Japanese artist’s depiction of Americans during Commodore Perry’s 1854 expedition from the “Black Ship Scroll,” capturing Japan’s first encounter with the West., c. 1853-1854, [1215×831]
SS: This artwork is part of the Kurofune-e (“Black Ship Pictures”) or Black Ship Scrolls, painted by Japanese artists documenting Commodore Matthew Perry’s expedition to open Japan after more than 200 years of isolation.
The images show “true portraits” (shinja) of Perry and his second-in-command, Commander Adams as imagined through Japanese eyes. With no direct exposure to Westerners, artists relied on stylized conventions: intense eyes, exaggerated noses, and “hair curled like rings,” a reflection of both fascination and unease.
SuddenlyThirsty on
So accurate
E_C_H on
With all respect, that title is something of a gross exaggeration, or at least badly put together. Japan had had experience with Westerners and even Western politics for centuries. That being said, it would certainly have been the first experience with Westerners for many Japanese people outside of the trade port area, likely including this artist.
SerendipityQuest on
More like first experience after the end of the isolationist Edo period (during which even though contact was limited, deliberate effort were made to remain updated in ‘western stuff’.
4 Comments
SS: This artwork is part of the Kurofune-e (“Black Ship Pictures”) or Black Ship Scrolls, painted by Japanese artists documenting Commodore Matthew Perry’s expedition to open Japan after more than 200 years of isolation.
The images show “true portraits” (shinja) of Perry and his second-in-command, Commander Adams as imagined through Japanese eyes. With no direct exposure to Westerners, artists relied on stylized conventions: intense eyes, exaggerated noses, and “hair curled like rings,” a reflection of both fascination and unease.
So accurate
With all respect, that title is something of a gross exaggeration, or at least badly put together. Japan had had experience with Westerners and even Western politics for centuries. That being said, it would certainly have been the first experience with Westerners for many Japanese people outside of the trade port area, likely including this artist.
More like first experience after the end of the isolationist Edo period (during which even though contact was limited, deliberate effort were made to remain updated in ‘western stuff’.