Dutch Ship at Anchor off the Coast of Tsushima, from the series One Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Various Provinces (Shōkoku meishō hyakkei), published by Uoya Eikichi Possibly 1859

Editor: This is Utagawa Hiroshige II’s woodblock print, "Dutch Ship at Anchor off the Coast of Tsushima." The ship looks enormous compared to the landscape. What can you tell me about the historical context of this piece? Curator: Well, the Dutch presence is fascinating. The Dutch flag on a ship off the coast of Tsushima tells a story of global trade and Japan's complex relationship with the outside world during the Edo period. Consider the limited access Japan granted to foreigners. Editor: So the Dutch were a key point of contact? Curator: Precisely. They were instrumental in funneling Western knowledge and goods into Japan. Notice how the artist renders the ship; it's both detailed and slightly exoticized. What does that tell you? Editor: I guess it emphasizes how foreign the ship must have seemed to the Japanese. It really brings that history to life. Curator: It does, doesn't it? It's about power, trade, and cultural exchange, all framed within a view of a specific place. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks!