Russians Reading and Writing 1861

This woodblock print, created by Utagawa Yoshikazu in 1861, humorously depicts two Russians engaged in the act of reading and writing. The print, a humorous commentary on the interaction between Japan and Russia, shows one man seated at a table, writing with a brush, while another stands beside him, holding a document. The print captures the Western influence on Japanese culture during the opening of Japan to the West and is a testament to the artistic talent of the late Edo period.