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Artist's commentary
Mt. Fuji and the Black Ships
This is the scene of Perry's fleet, which arrived in Japan in 1853, dropping anchor off the coast of Uraga. The sight of the four large ships caused an uproar at the Uraga Magistrate's Office, which dispatched a messenger to Edo and sent out all the ships it could to surround the fleet. The domain's soldiers were on high alert on the beach.
On the left is the flagship Susquehanna (a steam paddle frigate), and in the background on the right is Saratoga (a sailing sloop). According to the documents, it was a clear day with a wind from the south, giving a good view of Mt. Fuji. However, I have never seen Mt. Fuji from off the coast of Uraga, so I have to imagine the mountain ridge.
Acrylic on canvas, F4
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