Yokohama-e — Two Foreign Horsemen c.1860 (Pair of Color Woodblock Prints)
Yokohama-e — Two Foreign Horsemen c.1860 (Pair of Color Woodblock Prints)
A pair of original Japanese Yokohama-e color woodblock prints depicting foreign horsemen — windows into Japan's first encounter with the West. Most likely depicting figures from the "Five Nations" (America, England, the Netherlands, Russia, and France) which signed the 1858 commercial treaties opening Japan. Edo print publishers sent artists to Yokohama to sketch foreigners on the spot; others borrowed imagery from Western newspapers and journals. The result: a genre that captured Japan's fascination — and ambivalence — about the outside world.
Two original color woodblock prints on Japanese paper. Sold as a matched pair.
About Yokohama-e artists (Utagawa school, fl. 1859–c.1880)
Yokohama-e (literally "Yokohama pictures") are a distinct genre of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints that emerged after the 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa and the 1858 commercial treaty opened the port of Yokohama to foreign trade. For the first time in 200 years, Japanese artists could observe Westerners directly. The most prolific Yokohama-e designers were students of Utagawa Kuniyoshi: Utagawa Yoshitora, Utagawa Yoshikazu, Utagawa Sadahide, and Ochiai Yoshiiku.
About the Work
Between 1859 and approximately 1880, hundreds of Yokohama-e designs were published. Edo print publishers sent artists to Yokohama to sketch foreigners directly; others borrowed imagery from Western newspapers and journals (one famous example traced architectural detail from an 1860 Illustrated London News). Yokohama-e are distinguished by their use of bright aniline dyes newly available in the 1860s.
Scarcity & Market Context
Original first-impression. Multi-panel pentaptychs and triptychs are particularly prized. The market is increasingly focused on first-edition impressions with bright, un-faded aniline color.
Institutional Holdings
Major holdings at the Library of Congress (the Emily Crane Chadbourne Collection of 180 Yokohama prints), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Dimensions
Each sheet approximately 14 × 9.5 inches (standard oban format)
Frame: This piece ships unframed — the sheet or plate only. We can recommend framers in your area or ship to your preferred framer. Professional framing with archival materials typically runs $150–$400 depending on size and finish.
Shipping Terms
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Important Buyer Notice
These pieces are antique originals, ranging from approximately 100 to over 400 years old. Each piece will show varying degrees of age-appropriate condition: paper toning, foxing, edge wear, fold marks, minor restoration, light staining, and other natural signs of age are common and expected for works of this period. Condition varies from piece to piece.
It is the buyer's responsibility to confirm that the piece is in the condition they require before purchase. We are always happy to answer any questions about the state of the work, provide additional photographs of specific areas, describe any flaws or repairs in detail, or arrange a video review before you buy. Please contact us at any time with questions — we believe an informed buyer is the best customer.
All pieces are guaranteed authentic originals (not reproductions, facsimiles, or modern prints). We offer a full refund if authenticity is ever disputed by a qualified third party.