Sundown
Mortimer Menpes
1901
Watercolour
Source: Japan, A Record in Colour, facing p. 202
In his last chapter, "Characteristics," Menpes notes that "the people of Japan all contrive to present a gay and happy appearance to the outside world" (201); but in this mood piece, with the blush of sunset behind lanterns and banner, he has caught the melancholy atmosphere at the end of an event. — Jacqueline Banerjee