53 - This Japanese print (ukiyo-e) from the Meiji era (1868–1912) is the work of the famous artist Yamazaki Toshinobu (山崎年信) and is dated 1877. It reflects Japan’s opening to the world in the late 19th century and the rapid adoption of Western culture and fashion by the political and aristocratic elite of the time. Dignitaries and government officials wear European-inspired military uniforms featuring gold trim, massive epaulets, and official decorations. Similarly, the women wear crinoline dresses and ornate hats typical of European Victorian fashion. In the background, large flags bearing the Japanese sun disc (Hinomaru) can be seen, along with other official banners, topped by a radiant sun symbolizing the modernization and rising power of the Japanese Empire. The unique blend of traditional woodblock-printing techniques and decidedly modern subjects (known as kaika-e or “images of enlightenment/modernization”) is characteristic of this period of cultural upheaval.