Utagawa Yoshimori

Utagawa Yoshimori was an artist active during the mid-to-late 19th century, with a documented period of production spanning from 1850 to 1872. Primarily known for his woodblock prints, Yoshimori’s body of work held in major museum collections reflects a strong engagement with contemporary social and geographical themes, including the increasing presence of Westerners in Japan.

The subjects of his documented prints frequently focus on the treaty port areas, offering visual documentation of foreign interaction and local geography. Examples include the detailed observations Englishmen: One Standing, One Sketching and Foreigners in Miyozaki-chō. Other notable works represented in collections are the specific topographical print A Glance at Miyosaki, Yokohama and the series contribution Mt. Fuji from the series Famous Mountains in Japan. He also produced figure studies, evidenced by the Portrait of Okichi.

Fourteen Utagawa Yoshimori prints are represented in major American institutions, establishing his importance in chronicling the era. These museum-quality works are held in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. Much of this historical output is now considered public domain, allowing for access to high-quality prints for study and preservation.