Who painted Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France?

Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France was painted by Utagawa Yoshikazu in 1850.

Where can I see Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France?

Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France?

Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France

Utagawa Yoshikazu , 1850

Furansukoku|仏蘭西国|France is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Yoshikazu. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Furansukoku (仏蘭西国), a woodblock print executed by Utagawa Yoshikazu in 1850, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The work presents a composed scene in which a woman on horseback is flanked by two male figures, all rendered in ink and color on paper.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a woman dressed in a blue garment with a white headscarf and a pink skirt, holding a flower while riding a white horse marked with black spots. One attendant carries an infant, and the other gestures toward the rider, suggesting a narrative of travel or ceremony within a tranquil setting.

Technique & Style

Created using traditional ukiyo-e woodblock methods, the print combines line work with applied pigments to achieve a light blue background and vivid details on clothing, bridle, and saddle. The composition balances flat color areas with delicate ink outlines, characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century Japanese printmaking.

History & Provenance

Utagawa Yoshikazu, active during the late Edo period, produced this image in the early years of Japan’s opening to the West. The print entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, though specific details of its earlier ownership remain undocumented.

Context

The title, Furansukoku, translates to “France,” reflecting a period when Japanese artists incorporated foreign place names and themes into their work, often to appeal to both domestic and international audiences. The scene’s serene elegance aligns with contemporary Romantic sensibilities that emphasized emotion and picturesque moments.