This ink drawing of a lizard in a jar was created by a Japanese artist, Odano Naotake. The title is “Lizard brought to Tokyo by a Dutchman,” dated 1779.
The drawing was made during the “Sakoku” period in Japan - the isolationist foreign policy under the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period (1603 to 1868.) The isolationist foreign policy lasted for 265 years.
During this time, strict regulations were placed on commerce and foreign relations. Nearly all foreign nationals were banned from entering Japan, while common Japanese people were kept from leaving the country. But there were exceptions. One of them was Holland which was the only permitted European country in Japan at that time. Western scientific, technical, and medical innovation flowed into Japan from the Dutch trading post at Dejima, an artificial island off Nagasaki. Rangaku (“Dutch learning”) was popular, and it was a very important movement.
Dutch introduced and brought many things to Japan from Europe during this time. Apparently, a lizard in a jar too! The artist, Odano Naotake was a painter from the Akita Ranga art school and was influenced by Rangaku and Western perspectives.
This drawing may not be a great example to celebrate World Lizard Day today, but we thought it might spark some interests among reptile enthusiasts.
Lizard brought to Tokyo by a Dutchman Odano Naotake, 1749-1780, Japanese [artist] Ink on paper Japanese Edo Period Dated 1779 Repository: Satake Yoshiharu Collection HOLLIS number: olvwork248806
This image is part of FAL’s Digital Images and Slides Collection (DISC), a collection of images digitized from secondary sources for use in teaching and learning. FAL does not own the original artworks represented in this collection, but you can find more information at HOLLIS Images.