True View of the Foreign Buildings along the Waterfront Seen from the Yokohama Wharves (Yokohama hatoba yori kaigandori ijinkan no shinzu) c. 1875

Utagawa Hiroshige III made this woodblock print of Yokohama, Japan, sometime in the late 19th century. It depicts the bustling waterfront and the foreign buildings that had sprung up following the opening of Japan to international trade. The image creates meaning through a combination of visual codes and cultural references. We see western ships and buildings, but rendered with traditional Japanese artistic techniques. The figures in western dress mingle with those in kimonos, suggesting a society in transition. This print serves as a record of a specific moment in Japanese history, when the country was grappling with the challenges and opportunities of globalization. By studying trade records, diplomatic correspondence, and other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social, economic, and political forces that shaped the production and reception of this print. In doing so, we can appreciate the role of art in reflecting and shaping our understanding of the world around us.