Artwork preview

Interior of an American Steamship

Utagawa Yoshikazu

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a colorful, detailed illustration of the interior of an American steamship. The scene is divided into multiple levels and areas. The top section shows a deck with people standing and walking around. The deck has a railing on the right side and a structure resembling a covered area or a lifeboat on the left. Multiple people are dressed in Western-style clothing and some in traditional Japanese attire. On the lower left, a staircase and a lower deck or dock area are visible with more people. To the right, there is a large room with large windows and an interior divided into sections. Inside this room, numerous people are seated at long tables eating. The room appears to be a dining area with a counter and seating. The color palette includes various shades of blue, red, green, beige, and black. The illustration style is reminiscent of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints. The overall scene portrays a bustling interior of a steamship with passengers and staff.

Artwork Details

Date
4th month, 1861
Medium
Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
599 × 294 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette