The Japan Expedition, from Actualités, published in Le Charivari 1853

This lithograph, "The Japan Expedition," was created by CHAM, Amédée Charles Henri, and published in Le Charivari. The print, primarily articulated through line, depicts an exchange between an American and the Emperor of Japan. The composition is structured by the two figures facing one another, offset by Japanese vases and Western trade goods. The artist skillfully contrasts the static, formally dressed Emperor with the active, gesturing American, using caricature to emphasize their differences. The structural opposition embodies the cultural and economic tensions of the period. Through exaggerated features and comical situations, Cham critiques the dynamics of Western imperialism and its encounter with Japan, destabilizing established categories of power and trade through satire. The formal elements work together to create a critical commentary on cultural exchange and power dynamics in the 19th century.