The Interior of the Gankiro Tea House in Yokohama 1861

This ukiyo-e woodblock print, "The Interior of the Gankiro Tea House in Yokohama," by Suzuki Hiroshige II (1826-1869), depicts a lively scene inside a tea house in Yokohama. The triptych, created in 1861, showcases the bustling social life in Yokohama during the period of Japanese isolation. The image features a red bridge connecting different parts of the tea house, while numerous figures, some in fashionable Western clothing, enjoy the tea and the company of others. This work is a testament to the influence of Western culture on Japan during this period and offers a glimpse into the daily life of the people. It currently resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.