French Woman and Girl, from the series Foreign Merchants in Yokohama (Yokohama shōka ijin no zu) 1861

This woodblock print by Utagawa Sadahide, titled "French Woman and Girl," depicts a Western woman and her young daughter in a scene of everyday life. Created in 1861, it belongs to the "Foreign Merchants in Yokohama" series, documenting the influx of Westerners during the opening of Japan to the West. The image captures the woman's fascination with her reflection in a mirror, while her child curiously observes. The use of bright colors and meticulous details characteristic of the ukiyo-e style highlights the exotic and unusual aspects of the Western presence in Japan. This work offers a glimpse into the social and cultural transformations that shaped 19th-century Japan.