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

This satirical lithograph by CHAM (Amédée de Noé) titled "The Japan Expedition" from 1853 depicts a humorous exchange between an American sailor, Commodore Matthew Perry, and the Emperor of Japan. Perry, the figure on the right, holds a small object, likely a trinket, and tries to barter with the Emperor, who is depicted as sitting on a throne-like platform. This satirical image is a visual commentary on the American naval expedition to Japan and its attempt to force the nation into opening its borders to trade. The caricatured figures and the exaggerated setting amplify the tension between the two nations as the artist uses humor to highlight the complexities of diplomatic relations and the clash between different cultures in the 19th century.