Return of the Japanese Embassy from City Hall 1860

This stereograph, by Edward Anthony, captures the return of the Japanese Embassy from City Hall. A grand procession unfolds before us, marked by rigid lines of soldiers flanking horse-drawn carriages. Consider the cultural weight of this parade. Processions have ancient roots, serving as powerful displays of authority. Think of Roman triumphs or royal entries—rituals intended to impress upon the populace the power and legitimacy of the state. Here, this ceremony is borrowed and re-contextualized. The rigid lines and ordered march of the soldiers are a visual language that speaks of control and power. From the phalanxes of antiquity to modern military parades, the underlying message remains: order, strength, and dominion. The repetition of figures and forms can create a powerful, almost hypnotic effect, evoking a sense of collective identity and shared purpose, yet it is an imported, not organic, spectacle. Note, though, how these symbols are continually reinterpreted. Though the motifs remain, they are repurposed across eras, evolving through time, and resonating with new audiences in unforeseen ways.