Procession of a RyÅ«kyÅ«an Ambassador c. 1832

Curator: This print, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Procession of a Ryūkyūan Ambassador," published by Izumiya Ichibei. Editor: It has a rather lighthearted feel, almost comical. The figures are charmingly rendered, parading with what looks like great enthusiasm. Curator: Considering Izumiya Ichibei's role as publisher, the print likely served as a form of mass communication, disseminating images of diplomatic encounters and perhaps shaping public perceptions of Ryūkyūan envoys and, in a wider sense, their complex tribute relationship with Japan. Editor: And you can see the careful layering and registration of the colors. The material itself, the paper and the woodblocks used for printing, speak to a sophisticated production process involving numerous artisans. Curator: The very act of documenting and distributing images of foreign delegations served a political purpose, reinforcing the shogunate's authority and projecting an image of Japan as a center of diplomatic activity and cultural influence. Editor: I'm struck by how accessible the scene feels despite its potential political undertones. It's fascinating to consider the labor involved and how widely this image might have been circulated.