Foreigners in the Drawing Room of Foreign Merchant's House in Yokohama 1861

Utagawa Sadahide created this woodblock triptych, “Foreigners in the Drawing Room of Foreign Merchant's House in Yokohama,” in the 19th century. Notice the composition, divided into three panels, offers a glimpse into a Western-style interior filled with figures in both Western and Japanese attire. The colour palette is muted, dominated by blues, reds, and greens, which gives the scene a tranquil yet somewhat formal atmosphere. The arrangement of figures and objects seems deliberately staged. The linear perspective, although present, is flattened, a common feature in ukiyo-e prints, which complicates the depth and spatial relationships. The lines are precise and clean, delineating each form distinctly, emphasizing pattern and texture in the clothing and interior decor. Sadahide employs a semiotic system of signs, juxtaposing cultural symbols and visual codes. This work destabilizes fixed meanings, inviting viewers to negotiate the blending of Eastern and Western aesthetics and societal norms. The triptych, therefore, becomes a space where cultural identities meet, challenge, and redefine each other.