William (Wilhelm) Heine was the official artist of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's' Black Ships' expedition to Japan in 1853-54. On returning to the United States; he produced a series of prints depicting the trip.

This lithograph; clearly a variation on his 'Old China Street' print in the American edition of his work; is from the Dutch edition; Reis om de wereld naar Japan : aan boord van het expeditie-eskader onder Commodore M.C. Perry in de jaren 1853; 1854 en 1855; ondernomen op last van de regering der Vereenigde Staten (Rotterdam; 1856). Pictures From History