Holland (Oranda koku) 1861

Utagawa Yoshikazu produced this woodblock print titled 'Holland' in Japan during the 1860s. The image presents a vision of Dutch culture filtered through a Japanese lens. Yoshikazu likely never visited Europe. So his depiction is based on second-hand accounts and imported goods. Note the Dutch man with his pipe and the woman reading, perhaps learning about this faraway land. The text in the print further describes Holland, emphasizing its population and landmarks. This print reflects Japan's growing interest in the West during the late Edo period. The country had opened up to foreign trade after centuries of isolation, leading to a fascination with Western culture. 'Holland' can be seen as part of a broader trend of 'Yokohama-e,' or Yokohama prints, which depicted foreigners and foreign goods in the port city of Yokohama. To understand this image, we can consult historical records of trade, travel, and cultural exchange between Japan and the Netherlands. These shed light on the social conditions that shaped its production and reception.