England (Igirisu), from the Countries of Europe (Yoroppa-shu no uchi) 1861

This woodblock print, made by Utagawa Yoshikazu, presents an imagined view of England through symbolic representation. The figures, likely intended to evoke Englishmen, are laden with symbolic meaning. Consider the umbrella held aloft; beyond its practical function, it speaks of a certain protectiveness, a shielding from the elements. The pipe, too, is not merely for smoking. Think of similar depictions in Dutch Golden Age paintings of merchants, projecting an air of contemplation and worldly experience. The dog, a loyal companion, hints at fidelity and domestication, echoing similar motifs in Renaissance portraiture. These symbols transcend their immediate context, resonating with broader cultural narratives. Yet, the dog is not Cerberus. The umbrella is not a royal scepter. We see the same archetypes appear across history in cyclical progression, transformed and imbued with new meaning.