Who painted 亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter?

亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter was painted by Utagawa Yoshikazu in 1861.

Where can I see 亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter?

亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter?

亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter

Utagawa Yoshikazu , 1861

亜墨利加|American Family with a Dancing Daughter is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshikazu. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Yoshikazu’s 1861 woodblock print, titled American Family with a Dancing Daughter, depicts a Western‑style household in a compact composition. The work is executed in ink and color on paper and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents a father in a formal black suit and top hat standing beside a mother seated in a voluminous skirt with a decorative collar. Their daughter, positioned in front, stretches her arms and twirls in a dark dress trimmed with a pink ruffled skirt, suggesting a moment of familial celebration or domestic amusement.

Technique & Style

Yoshikazu employs the characteristic flat areas of color and bold outlines of ukiyo‑e woodblock printing. The palette is limited to stark black, vivid pink, and a contrasting blue, while the background remains unadorned, emphasizing the figures. Simple line work defines the forms, and the composition relies on clear silhouette rather than gradated shading.

History & Provenance

Created during the late Edo period, the print reflects the growing Japanese interest in Western attire and domestic scenes. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the 20th century, where it remains on view as an example of cross‑cultural representation in Japanese printmaking.