American Family with a Dancing Daughter 1861

"American Family with a Dancing Daughter" is a woodblock print by the Japanese artist Utagawa Yoshikazu, created in 1861. This ōban print, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, depicts a Western-style family - a man, woman, and their child - in a humorous scene. The young girl is dressed in a Western frock, and she dances with a ball in her hand as her parents watch, showcasing the fascination with Western culture in Japan during the 19th century. The print is a testament to Yoshikazu’s talent in capturing the essence of the Edo period’s transition to modernization, and the growing influence of the West.