Japanese woodblock prints are famous worldwide, functioning as both art and mass media. During the political, social, and economic upheaval of the Meiji era, woodblock prints documented not only the changing aesthetics of the time but also shaped public narratives and perception. Western clothing was promoted by the Japanese elite as part of an effort to position Japan on equal footing with Western nations. Partially celebrity gossip, partially propaganda, woodblock prints of the royal family in Western dress were widely disseminated, and the aesthetic choices within those prints are illustrative of larger cultural forces at the time.

In evaluating art of the Meiji period, studying these prints is an important aspect of decentralizing the Western perspective, focusing on media created by and for Japanese citizens for insight into how these cultural shifts were promoted. For this project, I analyzed a selection of Meiji-era prints featuring illustrations of Empress Shōken, focusing on iconography and historical context. I also researched the history of fashion and Westernization, consulting primary and secondary sources. The visual language of these prints showcases the tension between perceived Western modernity and traditional Japanese identity. Western items, such as a trestle bridge or a French-style gown, are juxtaposed with aesthetics grounded in Japanese fashion and artistic tradition. Whether it is chrysanthemums decorating the Empress’s gown, a reorientation to centrally position Mount Fuji, or a symbolic ikebana display, these prints contextualize Japan’s Westernization as a deliberate step towards modernity while reassuring the viewer of the stability of Japanese cultural identity.