Japanese Print "Foreigners are Coming ! - Commodore Perry of American Navy" by Unknown
Artist:Unknown
Title:Foreigners are Coming ! - Commodore Perry of American Navy
Date:Ca. 1850-60s.
Details:More information...
Source:artelino - Japanese Prints
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Description:
Portrait of American navy commodore Mathew C. Perry holding an upraised saber. This strange portrait was probably the real impression the Japanese had when they first encountered a foreigner. The writings further indicated that the ship sailed 4500-ri, 18 days on the sea, to Yokohama harbor in Bu-shu. The historical fact was that Perry's black steam ships appeared in Tokyo Bay in 1853. The Japanese had never seen ships steaming with smoke. They thought the black iron ships were actually "giant dragons puffing smoke." The Japanese government officials were equally shocked by the number and size of the cannons on the ships. Their menacing presence had great effect on the Japanese government, which reluctantly made a treaty with USA in 1854. It was beginning of the end of Japanese international isolation lasted for 300 years.
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