Mimi de Villeneuve, Isono Bunsai (attributed to), 1828 - 1832
color woodcut, h 229mm × w 162mm More details
In 1829, Mimi de Villeneuve came to Nagasaki in the company of her husband. However, European women were not allowed to enter Deshima, the Dutch trading colony and she had to turn back straightaway on the ship she had come on. Although she was not permitted to disembark, pictures were made of her. The text describes her appearance – highlighting her deep-set eyes, transparent skin and long nose – which struck the Japanese as peculiar.
