Dutch Man
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Art of Japan
Typical Price
$500–$4,000. Common subjects: $500–$1,500. Key value factors: As an early sosaku-hanga pioneer, Kawakami's prints have historical significance. His distinctive graphic style is collected.
Description
"Dutch Man" depicts one of the Dutch traders at Dejima — the artificial island in Nagasaki harbor where the Dutch East India Company maintained its trading post during Japan's period of sakoku (national seclusion, 1635–1853). The Dutch traders were the only Westerners permitted to trade with Japan during this period, confined to Dejima and permitted only strictly regulated contact with Japanese society. Kawakami renders the Dutchman with his distinctive features, clothing, and bearing as a figure of exotic fascination — the sole representative of the wider Western world in Japan's sealed world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dutch Man was created by Sumio Kawakami (川上澄生).
Dutch Man depicts figures, portraits, and travel scenes.