For over two centuries, Japan was closed off to nearly all foreigners. In 1853, the U.S. Navy’s Commodore Matthew C. Perry arrived in Japan and through the use of “gunboat diplomacy,” forced the Japanese government to open several ports to American trade ships the next year. Japanese arts and crafts began to be exported and over the next several decades heavily influenced Western artists and designers.

Wikimedia Commons

Title: 
Commodore Perry reading letter from US President
Pattern: 
Print
Maker: 
Unidentified artist
Circa
1854
Made in
Japan