American Couple (Amerika), from the series Pictures of People from Foreign Lands (Gaikoku jimbutsu zue), published by Yamadaya Shōjirō (CHECK IF A OR B UPON ARRIVAL AT HUAM) Possibly 1860

Curator: This woodblock print is titled "American Couple (Amerika)", from the series *Pictures of People from Foreign Lands,* by Utagawa Yoshitora. Editor: There's a striking theatricality here. The exaggerated features, the flamboyant clothing… it feels like satire, almost mocking Westerners. Curator: Yes, the artist likely hadn't encountered Americans firsthand. He's drawing on second-hand accounts, shaping perceptions through exaggerated visual cues and symbols of foreignness. The clothing, while attempting to capture Western fashion, is imbued with Japanese textile designs. Editor: The woman's skirt, for instance—the bold floral patterns clash so fascinatingly with the Western silhouette. It’s a powerful commentary on cultural exchange and the often-uneasy merging of different worlds. Curator: Precisely. It illuminates how cultures interpret and re-imagine each other, encoding their own values and perspectives into these representations. Editor: Seeing this image, I am reminded that identities are always fluid. Curator: A fascinating glimpse into cross-cultural perception and the narratives we weave around those we deem "foreign."