Port of London England (Igirisu Rondon no kaikō), from the series Complete Enumeration of Scenic Places in Foreign Nations (Bankoku meisho zukushi no uchi), published by Yamadaya Shōjirō Possibly 1862

Curator: This is Utagawa Yoshitora's woodblock print, "Port of London England," part of the "Complete Enumeration of Scenic Places in Foreign Nations" series. It gives us a glimpse into how 19th-century Japan imagined the West. Editor: Well, if this is their vision of London, I’m immediately struck by its almost dreamlike quality. The colors are vibrant, but there's a certain flatness that makes it feel more symbolic than realistic. Curator: Exactly. Note how Yoshitora employs a Western motif – a mounted British officer, for instance – but renders him with a distinct Japanese aesthetic. The red uniform is striking! Editor: It certainly is. Red often symbolizes power, vitality, even anger, so it's interesting how he uses it to depict a foreign authority. Is he subtly commenting on colonial power, perhaps? Curator: It's definitely food for thought. The blend of observation and imagination is what I find fascinating. It’s a cultural mirror reflecting both fascination and a bit of apprehension. Editor: Right, seeing your own reflection through someone else's eyes is always a strange, illuminating experience.