Utagawa Yoshitoyo. French Pastimes (Furansu-jin Yukyo) / Yokohama-e, 1860

Title: French Pastimes (フランス人遊興, Furansu-jin Yukyō)
Artist: Utagawa Yoshitoyo [一龍斎芳豊] (Japanese, 1830–1866), also known as Ichiryūsai Yoshitoyo
Signed: 一龍齋 芳豊画 (Ichiryūsai Yoshitoyo ga)
Publisher: Kikuya Ichibei [菊屋市兵衛] (Japanese, 1835–1867)
Publisher’s seal: 横山三 菊市板 (Yokoyama San, Kiku-Ichi han)
Block carver: Yokokawa Takejirō [横川竹二郎] (Japanese, fl. 1845–1863)
Carver’s seal: 彫竹 (Hori Take)
Date–aratame seal: 1860 (Man’en 1)
Media: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper; vertical ōban, 379 × 256 mm
Genre: Yokohama-e (横浜絵)

A Western woman in a yellow bodice and a voluminous blue skirt decorated with stylized floral and vertical stripe patterns holds a hat and strikes a graceful pose, turning her face upward and gesturing toward a girl on horseback. The girl, bareheaded — her hat held by her mother — wears a red jacket and a white skirt with red floral patterns. She looks down at the woman while gripping the reins.

A second child stands at the right, dressed in a blue jacket and red trousers, holding the cords attached to his straw footwear and turning toward the woman with a cheerful expression.

The woman wears a feathered bonnet with red fringe, earrings, and a blue necklace; her rounded figure and hand placed on her midsection may suggest pregnancy. A large tree with curling foliage frames the scene on the left. The horse is rendered with exaggerated expression and wide blue eyes, adding a humorous and theatrical touch.

As typical of yokohama-e, the image presents a fantastical, exoticized vision of foreigners, reflecting Edo-period curiosity and limited knowledge of Western people during Japan’s early encounters with the outside world.

Very good quality, bright colours, full margins.

Reference: The MET: JP3334.

SOLD