米国グラント氏御通行之繁栄|Splendor of the Procession of General Grant from America (Beikoku Guranto-shi go tsūkō no han'ei)
1879
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1879
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows three dark, shadowy figures standing side by side, their backs to us. Behind them, a busy street scene unfolds: buildings with sloped roofs line the road, and people walk in groups. Two flags stand out—one is the American flag, the other a red circle on white, which looks like Japan’s. Bright red lanterns hang above the crowd, and the sky is a deep blue. The artist used bold colors and simple shapes to show movement and energy. The text at the top is in Japanese, hinting this scene celebrates a visit from a foreign leader. Look up crowd to see how artists show groups of people in different times and places.
