Sales Room in the Foreign Mercantile Firm in Yokohama

Due to required maintenance, some galleries and artwork may be off view. Learn more

Currently not on view

Sales Room in the Foreign Mercantile Firm in Yokohama

1861

Utagawa Sadahide (Japanese, c. 1807–1873) Published by Sanoya Kihei, Kikakudō

The major Japanese commodities for international trade were raw silk and tea; other exports included fish and vegetable oils, copper, lacquerware, porcelain, and fans. Basic imports from the West included cotton yarn and cloth, woolen fabrics, iron products, sugar, tobacco, clocks and watches, glass, and wines and liquors. In this crowded scene of a Western merchant's business, Sadahide records his keen observations of the new commercial transactions. At right, merchants bargain with Japanese tradesmen, both parties gesturing to aid their efforts to communicate because knowledge of each other's languages was severely limited. Sadahide also made note of the left-to-right horizontal writing practice of the Western gentleman in the center foreground-a radically different approach from the Japanese, who write in vertical columns from right to left.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

Sales Room in the Foreign Mercantile Firm in Yokohama

Date:

1861

Artists:

Utagawa Sadahide (Japanese, c. 1807–1873) Published by Sanoya Kihei, Kikakudō

Medium:

Color woodcut triptych

Dimensions:

Ōban tate-e triptych (50--52): 13 3/4 x 27 5/8 inches (34.9 x 70.2 cm)

Classification:

Prints

Credit Line:

Print Club of Philadelphia Permanent Collection, 1965

Accession Number:

1965-57-50--52

Geography:

Published in Japan, Asia

Context:

Period: Edo Period (1615-1868)

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.

Currently not on view

More like this:

1/12