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Nagasaki-e: The Dutch Portrayed in Japanese Woodblock Prints  ( Part 1 )

 

Nagasaki-e

Since the arrival in 1600 of the first Dutch ship 'De Liefde' in Japan, the Dutch became involved in trade activities with Japan. 
In 1609, shortly after the founding of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) 1602~1799, the first Dutch trading post was located in the port town of Hirado on Kyûshû, the southernmost island in Japan. At the same time a trade pass was issued by the Shogun exclusively for the Dutch. This was the beginning of a long period of mutual relations between the Netherlands and Japan that was not only limited to trade but would also extend to the arts, culture and science.

In 1641 the Dutch trading post had to move to Dejima, a small island that was artificially constructed in the shape of an unfolded fan in the bay of Nagasaki. This was due to the decision of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu who imposed a closure policy (sakoku) for Japan. Therefore all foreigners except the Dutch and the Chinese had to leave the country while the Japanese themselves were not allowed to go out of the country.

 

Chief of Dejima, c. 1800s.

 

Dejima

 

For over two centuries Dejima remained the only view of the Japanese on the outside world (the West). Although to a limited extent, they still were able to take notice of the political and cultural developments in the West. Of course it was not long before the attention of the inhabitants of Nagasaki was drawn to the Dutch trading-post 'Dejima' and the 'red-haired barbarians' (kõmõjin) as the inhabitants of the Dutch trading-post were called. Soon after, the life and business of the Dutch in Nagasaki was captured in woodcuts (Nagasaki-e) intended for a curious audience. In this way the first maps were created with images that portray the houses and warehouses of the Dutch in Dejima and also summaries of the location of the island towards the city in the Bay of Nagasaki.

In the perception of the Japanese the chief of the trading-post was a startling figure. Dressed in a coat embroidered with gold, holding a long clay pipe and a cane, accompanied by a Javanese servant holding a parasol above his head, he was a favorite subject of the Nagasaki-e. Also the different eating habits and table manners must have appealed to the Japanese. Sometimes certain images were mixed together. For example, a combination of a diner and a musical performance.

Chief of Dejima, c. 1800s.

 

European Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

The presence of European women were prohibited on Dejima. 
Therefore they are seldomly depicted in Nagasaki-e prints. An exeption on this prohibition was the stay of Mrs.Titia Cock Blomhoff, the wife of chief Jan Cock Blomhoff who arrived in 1817 from Batavia with his family in Dejima. After a few months she had to leave the island with the next Dutch ship. It's easy to understand that these appearances from the first European women in Japan were immediately immortalized by Japanese artists and were extremely popular with the public.

 

 

 

Dutch Woman and Man, c.1800s.

Dutch Woman and Man, c.1800s.

 

Dutch Ships

Also the Dutch ships which periodically sailed into Nagasaki with new trade supplies drew the attention of Nagasaki-e designers. Usually, these images of merchant vessels had accompanying texts in Japanese with the specifications of the concerning ship and sometimes even an indication of the distances over sea from Japan to various countries.

 

Steamboat, c.1805
Steamboat, c.1805

 

 

 

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