Utagawa Yoshitora (Japanese, active ca. 1850 to 1880). "American Horsewoman" woodblock print, Edo period, January 1861. A wonderful woodblock by Utagawa Yoshitora depicting a woman in western clothing riding a horse with a title that fittingly translates to "American Horsewoman". Yoshitora's birth and death dates are unknown, he lived during the Edo period in the nineteenth century. A student of Kuniyoshi, Yoshitora created scenes of various genres - actor portraits, Tokyo cityscapes, warrior scenes, and Yokohama prints featuring Japanese interpretations of Westerners like this example. Size (image): 14.5" L x 9.875" W (36.8 cm x 25.1 cm) Size (sheet): 16.625" L x 12.875" W (42.2 cm x 32.7 cm)

Woodblock prints were created in Japan as early as the 8th century to illustrate texts. By the 18th century Japanese woodblock techniques had evolved, and the first polychrome prints or nishiki-e were commissioned for wealthy patrons of the Edo period. This period was known for marvelous woodblock prints of female beauties, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, and courtesans of the infamous pleasure districts. In time the repertoire expanded to include romantic landscapes, flora and fauna, and dramatic historical events. Woodblock prints played a major role in the West's perception of Japanese visual culture during the late 19th century when Japonism exerted a powerful influence on French Impressionists such as Degas, Manet, and Monet, Post-Impressionists including Van Gogh, even pioneering Art Nouveau artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec.

Interestingly Yokohama prints presented Japanese interpretations of Westernors. In 1854 with the Treaty of Kanagawa, trade between the U.S. and Japan opened up in Yokohama. One of the impacts on visual culture was the creation of Yokohama-e woodblocks that presented Japanese interpretations of Westerners such as Yoshitora's "American Horsewoman".

Utagawa Yoshitora's prints are held in esteemed museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the British Museum. See "American Horsewoman" in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 2007.49.194).

Provenance: private Constance McCormick Fearing estate, Montecito, California, USA, acquired before 2004

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#181151

Normal wear commensurate with age. Some creases, minute stains and minute losses/holes as shown. Vivid imagery and hues. Hinged at top edge to old cardstock with label that reads, "Genuine Kikutora 1858-1912". Cardstock shows with stains, toning and mat burns.