Collection of Desires, Wish for Foreign Travel (Mitate Tai zukushi-yōkō ga shitai) 1878

This is Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's woodblock print, "Collection of Desires, Wish for Foreign Travel" made during the Meiji era, a time of rapid modernization and Western influence in Japan. Yoshitoshi captures a woman lost in a book, her desire for foreign travel palpable. The print is an example of 'mitate,' a playful artistic approach that reinterprets classical themes in a contemporary context. During the Meiji period, Japan was opening up to the world, and this piece reflects the growing fascination with foreign lands, a longing that would have been largely unattainable for women at this time. Yoshitoshi has said that he strives to depict not just the external appearance, but "the spirit" of his subjects. Here, the woman's quiet intensity speaks volumes about her inner life and aspirations, emotions that many can relate to. Yoshitoshi uses traditional techniques to depict a yearning for something new, a visual metaphor for the tensions between tradition and modernity that defined Japan during the Meiji era. Ultimately, this print evokes a sense of empathy for the woman’s unfulfilled desires.