Russia (Oroshia koku), from the Countries of Asia (Ajia shu no uchi) 1861

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Yoshikazu's woodblock print, "Russia (Oroshia koku), from the Countries of Asia," created in 1861. It feels like a rather staged portrait – what do you make of it? Curator: Oh, absolutely staged, but deliciously so! This print, part of a series depicting different countries, offers a glimpse into how Japan perceived the West during its opening up. I see not just a portrait but a theatrical tableau, a playful, somewhat naive, and wholly imaginative vision of Russia. The artist seems to be more interested in conveying a general impression rather than accurate details, wouldn’t you say? The woman’s costume, for instance, is more theatrical than truly Russian. What does it evoke for you? Editor: I get that. It's like a child imagining a faraway land! The details, though, like the patterned tablecloth and the text, are fascinating. They're a blend of careful observation and pure fantasy, right? Curator: Precisely! The text, crammed with information, coexists with these fanciful elements. This tension, this push-and-pull between reality and imagination, is what captivates me. It's almost as if Yoshikazu is saying, "Here’s Russia, according to the books, but also, here's my *idea* of Russia!" The flowers and the ornate dessert are particularly striking choices, don't you think? Perhaps alluding to a perceived exoticism. It begs the question, doesn’t it – what is truly “real” when filtered through someone else’s cultural lens? Editor: I never thought about it that way, but I love that idea – "Here's my idea of Russia!" So it’s like, both a document of a place and of a perception, almost a third, imagined space. That's really opened my eyes. Curator: And mine as well. Art reminds us that perspectives are fluid and forever fascinating. What a delightful reminder of how multifaceted knowledge can truly be!