September 7, 201930th Anniversary of the Yokohama Museum of Art /160th Anniversary of the Opening of Yokohama Port

Following the Path of Commodore Perry’s Arrival through Images
September 21 - November 10, 2019
Commodore Perry Coming Ashore at Yokohama is a painting of
the arrival of the American squadron to a small village of
Yokohama on March 8th 1854. The painting has often been
exhibited in our collection. The image captures the historicalmoment of the arrival of Commodore Perry that eventually led tothe opening of Yokohama Port. This painting will be thecenterpiece of the exhibition that will illustrate the story of thecommencement of how Yokohama became an international city.
This painting, depicting the event of March 8th 1854, is attributed
to Peter Bernhard Wilhelm HEINE, who accompanied Commodore
Perry on his expedition to Japan, during which time he sketchedand painted numerous images. Together with photographer

Attributed to Peter Bernhard Wilhelm HEINE
Commodore Perry Coming Ashore at Yokohama
after 1854
53.3×80.5cm oil on canvas
Yokohama Museum of Art(donated by Mr. HARA Noriyuki and Mrs. Hara Etsuko)

Eliphalet Brown Jr., Heine was the main illustrator of the
expedition’s official narrative : Narrative of the expedition of an
American squadron to the China Seas and Japan : performed in
the years 1852, 1853, and 1854, under the command of
Commodore M.C. Perry, United States Navy, by order of theGovernment of the United States. It seems that photograph of thetime, daguerreotype, required too long an exposure time that it
made it impossible to capture the crucial moment.

Eliphalet Brown Jr.
Endo Matazaemonand His Retainers
1854
Daguerreotype (the replica is on
exhibited)
11.4×8.2cm
Yokohama Museum of Art*Important Cultural Properties

At the time of Perry’s arrival, painting was the main recording medium and lithograph was just about to develop as a
new method for reproduction relating to publication. This exhibition will show how visual medium such as painting,photograph, and prints interact each other to narrate and represent Perry’s expedition to Japan.
On the other hand, how did the people on the shore observe the incident of March 8th 1854? We will examine it
through images illustrating Commodore Perry and his crew and the East India Squadron painted by various
Japanese people. They convey the inquisitiveness and vivid curiosity of the Japanese people of the time. We will
be providing various educational programs as well as talk sessions performed by our museum voluntary members
in hope to enhance the rendering of Yokohama as it was 160 years ago. We hope you will enjoy them as well.

SectionsI. March 8th, 1854 / Kaei 7 February 10th : Images of Perry’s Landingat YokohamaThis section is all about the day of Perry’s arrival. With the painting in ourcollection Commodore Perry Coming Ashore at Yokohama as the centerpiece,
other artworks of the view of Yokohama captured by Perry’s delegation will be
exhibited along with those of ships and people portrayed by Japanese people.

II. Recording Works in watercolors, oil paintings and lithographs on

Small Boat Approaching the Main Shipn.d.
color on paper 27.2×38.7cm
Yokohama City Central Library

The Perry Squadron in Ryukyu, Hatayamazaki, Kurihama andShimoda.
Besides Commodore Perry Coming Ashore at Yokohama, there are otherimages created in water colors, oil paintings and lithographs of the locationsin Japan where the Perry’s squadron navigated namely, Ryukyu,
Hatayamazaki, Kurihama and Shimoda. We will show the similarities anddifferences of these artworks and will verify how the incident was recorded
and propagated through images and other medium.

OutlineSketches of the Perry’s “Black Ships” Squadronlate 19th century
color on paper, scroll 26.3×695.3cm
Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History*this scene is exhibited: Oct 18 - Nov.10, 2019

Following the Path of Commodore Perry’s Arrival through Images
Venue

Art Gallery 1, Yokohama Museum of Art[3-4-1, Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012]
https://yokohama.art.museum/eng/

Dates

September 21 (Sat.)- November 10 (Sun.), 2019

Open hours

10:00-18:00*10:00-20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays*10:00-21:00 on Sep.27, 28.

ClosedThursdays

AdmissionFree

Organized by

Yokohama Museum of Art [Yokohama Arts Foundation]Peter Bernhard Wilhelm HEINE
Landing of Commodore Perry, officers & men of
the Squadron, to meet the Imperial Commissioners
at Shimoda, Japan, June 8th, 1854. (detail)1855
lithograph 64.4×89.3cm
Printing Museum, Tokyo

Contact
Fujii(Ms.), Yamamoto(Ms.), Umezawa(Ms.), Kuwahara(Ms.) ／ Public Relations, Yokohama Museum of Art
3-4-1, Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0012 JAPANTEL: +81(0)45 221 0319 FAX: +81(0)45 221 0317 E-mail: pr-yma@yaf.or.jp