Who painted Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant?

Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant was painted by Utagawa Yoshikazu in 10.

Where can I see Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant?

Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant?

Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant

Utagawa Yoshikazu , 10

Ijiin Yashiki ryōri no zu|Inside a Foreign Restaurant is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshikazu. It dates from 10 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Inside a Foreign Restaurant is a Japanese woodblock print executed in ink and color on paper by the Edo‑period artist Utagawa Yoshikazu. The image portrays a bustling kitchen interior populated by three male figures engaged in food preparation, a dog at their feet, and a cluttered array of utensils and containers. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

This juxtaposition suggests a venue where cultural exchange is mediated through food service, reflecting the period’s growing interest in foreign customs.

The composition captures a moment of culinary activity in a space that blends Japanese and Western elements. The men wear garments reminiscent of foreign dress, while the surrounding tools—cutting boards, baskets, and a hanging scale—are recognizably Japanese. This juxtaposition suggests a venue where cultural exchange is mediated through food service, reflecting the period’s growing interest in foreign customs.

Technique & Style

Yoshikazu employs the characteristic ukiyo‑e approach of strong, clean outlines combined with flat, unmodulated color fields, which clarifies the crowded scene. The print’s perspective is shallow, emphasizing the figures and objects rather than depth. Details such as the lantern, teapots, and the dog are rendered with precise line work, underscoring the artist’s focus on everyday realism.

History & Provenance

Created in the early nineteenth century, the print entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art through a donation (or acquisition) in the twentieth century, though the exact date of transfer is not specified in the source. Its presence in a major Western museum highlights the historical interest in Japanese prints that followed the opening of Japan to foreign trade.

Context

Utagawa Yoshikazu was active during a time when ukiyo‑e artists increasingly depicted scenes of modern life, including the influence of Western fashion and technology. Prints like Inside a Foreign Restaurant document the subtle shifts in Japanese urban environments as they encountered foreign merchants and travelers, offering visual evidence of cultural hybridity before the Meiji Restoration.