Woodblock Print of Amerian Couple Lovely Yokohama-e by Utagawa Yoshikazu
[Japan] A very early Yokohama print depicting an American couple enjoying themselves outside. One wonders if this may well be Raphael Schoyer (1800-1865) and his wife, Anna. The censor seal on this print indicates it was published in the 10th month of the 1st year of the Man'en era which equates to November 1860. In late 1860, there were almost no Western women in Yokohama and Anna Schoyer (1830-1887) was known to be one of the first to arrive. She was supposedly very beautiful and about 30 years younger than her 60-year-old husband, Raphael, who came to Japan as an auctioneer possibly as early as December 1859. He died suddenly at a Yokohama town committee meeting in 1865 and Anna married the US Minister Resident to Japan, Robert Bruce Van Valkenburgh (1821–1888) in 1867.
Single, oban-sized print. 34.4 x 23.3cm.
In good to very good condition. Minor trimming. Some age wear to edges and a few marks. Very thin backing paper. u34111287
