Artwork

Ikiutsushi Americajin no zu|生写亜墨利加人之図|An American Drawn from Life

Ikiutsushi Americajin no zu|生写亜墨利加人之図|An American Drawn from Life is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshitomi. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1861 by the Edo‑period artist Utagawa Yoshitomi, this woodblock print, titled Ikiutsushi Americajin no zu (An American Drawn from Life), depicts a Western rider on horseback. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the period’s fascination with foreign subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a man wearing a tall black hat, dark coat, and curled mustache, astride a brown horse equipped with a red saddle and blue stirrups. His confident posture, one‑handed grip on the reins, and detailed boots convey an image of self‑assured Western masculinity, while the plain background isolates the figure for emphasis.

Technique & Style

Yoshitomi employed traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock methods, carving separate blocks for line work and each color. The print combines precise ink outlines with selective color application, allowing the horse’s mane and the rider’s attire to stand out against the unadorned backdrop. The composition reflects a blend of Japanese graphic clarity and an emerging interest in Western visual motifs.

History & Provenance

The work was produced during a time when Japan’s opening to the West generated a market for images of foreigners. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains catalogued as an example of cross‑cultural representation in Japanese printmaking.