Artwork

Motomura no yūdachi|Evening Glow at Motomura [Two Englishmen looking at the sunset]

Motomura no yūdachi|Evening Glow at Motomura [Two Englishmen looking at the sunset] is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Utagawa Yoshitora. It dates from 1 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Motomura no yūdachi, also known as Evening Glow at Motomura, is a Japanese woodblock print executed by the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Yoshitora. Produced in the late nineteenth century, the work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the genre’s blend of narrative illustration and decorative design.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts two Western travelers, dressed in vivid, exaggerated attire, standing before a tiled-roof structure while observing a sunset that fills the sky with pink and yellow hues. Inside the building, two additional figures gaze out toward the same horizon, suggesting a shared moment of contemplation across cultural boundaries.

Technique & Style

Yoshitora employs the traditional woodblock method, applying ink and color to paper with crisp outlines and flat areas of pigment. The composition features bold, cartoon‑like exaggerations—large eyes, pronounced beards, and a striking red cane—creating a visual language that borders on early comic illustration. Subtle cross‑hatching adds depth to the figures’ clothing and architectural details.

History & Provenance

Created in the Meiji period, a time when Japan was opening to foreign influence, the print reflects contemporary interest in Western visitors. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through a mid‑twentieth‑century acquisition, where it has been catalogued as an example of cross‑cultural ukiyo‑e production.

Context

The work belongs to a broader trend of ukiyo‑e prints that portrayed foreigners and modernizing Japan, often with a playful or satirical tone. Yoshitora, a member of the prolific Utagawa school, frequently incorporated Western motifs, aligning his output with the era’s fascination with international exchange and the visual novelty of foreign dress.