Famous Views in Yokohama - An American Beauty by Utagawa Yoshitora
[Japan] An early woodblock print of an American lady riding a horse with an inset of the Yokohama hatoba (wharf) at top left. The print is titled 'Bushū Yokohama Meisho Zu - Amerika Bijo' [An American Beauty - Famous Places in Yokohama, Bushū Province']. There was only a tiny number of Western women in Japan in 1860 and it is tempting to think that this lady may have been Anna Schoyer who was supposedly very beautiful. She was the wife of Raphael Schoyer (1800-1865) until he died and she then married the US Resident Minister, Robert Van Valkenburgh, in 1867. The censor seal indicates the print was made in December, 1860.
Single, oban sized print. 35.7 x 23.7cm.
In fair condition. Age wear, marks, and a few small chips at edges. Very thin backing paper that has been used to repair some old, small holes. u36041595
