Foreigners Studying at Night 1861

Editor: So here we have Utagawa Yoshikazu’s 1861 watercolor print, “Foreigners Studying at Night,” at the Met. I'm really struck by how this little peek into the lives of foreigners in Japan manages to feel both intimate and a bit detached. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, darling, what doesn’t one see? It's a delightful snapshot, isn’t it? Imagine Yoshikazu, eyes wide with curiosity, trying to capture the strange magic of these Westerners. Their clothes, the peculiar objects scattered about… Even the way they *think*, it's all a grand, hilarious guessing game. What do *you* make of their interiority? Do they feel studied, as we look on, like butterflies pinned beneath glass? Editor: Hmm, maybe! I hadn’t considered the power dynamic like that. But tell me, what's with the mirrored reflection? Curator: Ah, yes, the reflection! It's not just a mirror, my dear, but a window. To another world, another way of being. Yoshikazu is asking us, ‘What do we see when we look at the Other… and more importantly, what does it reveal about ourselves?’ Don't you find that rather profound, considering the time? It’s not a neutral record. Editor: It *is* quite poignant. It adds layers to an already fascinating piece, now that you point it out. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure, dear one. Always look for the story beneath the surface, and never be afraid to question what you think you see! It will never let you down.