Who painted Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing?

Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing was painted by Utagawa Yoshitora in 1861.

Where can I see Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing?

Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing?

Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing

Utagawa Yoshitora , 1861

Amerika jin Yuko Sakamori|An American Carousing is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshitora. It dates from 1861 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Utagawa Yoshitora’s woodblock print, dated 1861, portrays a convivial scene of a man and woman sharing drinks. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The composition is set against a warm yellow field, punctuated by stylized Japanese characters rendered in white within a black cloud shape.

Subject & Meaning

Their posture and accessories convey a shared act of drinking, reflecting everyday conviviality in mid‑nineteenth‑century Japan.

The figures suggest a moment of social leisure: the male figure, in a black jacket, white trousers, and a brown hat, holds a cup and a bottle, while the female figure, dressed in a patterned red‑blue kimono with an up‑do hairdo accented by a pink‑yellow ribbon, grasps the garment’s hem. Their posture and accessories convey a shared act of drinking, reflecting everyday conviviality in mid‑nineteenth‑century Japan.

Technique & Style

Created using traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock methods, Yoshitora combined line work with flat areas of color to define clothing, facial features, and the background. The use of a limited palette—dominant yellows, reds, blues, and stark whites—highlights the figures against the atmospheric cloud motif, a common decorative element in the period’s prints.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the late Edo period, a time when Western influences were increasingly visible in Japanese visual culture. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition, where it remains catalogued as an example of Yoshitora’s work documenting contemporary social scenes.

Context

Yoshitora, a member of the prolific Utagawa school, often depicted scenes of urban life, entertainment, and the emerging fascination with foreign customs. This work aligns with a broader trend of portraying drinking and leisure activities, offering insight into the everyday practices of Japanese society as it encountered Western ideas.