Foreigner Walking with a Pygmy Family 1863

This woodblock print, created in 1863 by the renowned Japanese artist Utagawa Yoshitsuya (1822–1866), humorously depicts a European, seemingly a Dutch or British man, towering over a family of Pygmies. Known as a *yōkai-e*, or "monster picture," this work highlights the fascination and sometimes fear that the Japanese held toward foreigners during the Edo period. The exaggerated size of the European and the detailed portrayal of his clothing, including a top hat, accentuate the cultural differences between Japan and the West. The print is a great example of Japanese art that captured the impact of Western culture on Japan in the 19th century.