1861
Russians (A Russian Couple Holding Hands)
Utagawa Kunihisa IIJapanese, 1832 - 1891
This composition is from a series of five images, each representing one of the five nations that signed commercial treaties with Japan in 1858. The background of each print in the series includes a glossary (written in Japanese characters) of foreign words relating to the nationality represented in the picture, with accompanying transliterations to the closest equivalent Japanese pronunciation. Glossaries of this type represent the first Japanese effort, in a popular medium, to contend with the newly introduced European languages.
This record is part of an ongoing effort to share accurate and evolving information. If you notice anything we should improve, we welcome your feedback at [email protected]
Images on this site are shared for educational use. For image rights, permissions, or to learn more about image rights and access, email [email protected]