Buitenlanders vermaken zich tijdens een banket 1860

This print, titled "Buitenlanders vermaken zich tijdens een banket", was made by Utagawa Yoshikazu in the mid-19th century. The artist used woodblock printing, a traditional technique in Japan. You can see the careful registration of colors, and the flat planes of ink, which give the image its distinctive character. The print depicts a banquet scene with foreigners, likely Europeans or Americans, in what appears to be a Japanese home. Woodblock printing involves carving a design into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. Each color requires a separate block, so the print represents a significant investment of labor. This was often divided, with specialists for carving, printing, and design. The image provides insights into cross-cultural interactions and the artist’s interpretation of Western customs, suggesting a moment of cultural exchange, but also the labor and means of production that would allow for this type of event to take place. Paying close attention to the materials and processes used in its creation, and its original social context, allows us to fully appreciate the richness and complexity of this artwork, and to challenge distinctions between the fine and decorative arts.