Een florerend Engels handelshuis in Yokohama 1871 - 1878

Utagawa Yoshiiku created this woodblock print titled "A thriving English trading house in Yokohama." This print offers us a glimpse into Yokohama, a port city that became a hub of international trade in the late 19th century. It was a period of significant cultural exchange and tension, as Japan opened its doors to the West after centuries of isolation. Yoshiiku's work captures this intersection. Notice the Western and Japanese figures mingling in the trading house. The Japanese are adorned in their traditional kimonos while the westerners are in Victorian era attire. The print reflects how the Japanese were keen to adopt and incorporate Western styles, while Westerners were interested in Japanese art and culture. Yoshiiku explores the performance of cultural identity and the visual markers of difference. The "flourishing" trading house symbolizes economic exchange, but on a deeper level it provokes us to reflect on the impact of globalization on identity and cultural heritage.