Charles A., Wirgman Jnr. Paintings

Charles Wirgman was a British artist and cartoonist born in 1832 in London, England. He is best known for his work as a correspondent for the Illustrated London News and for founding The Japan Punch, a satirical magazine produced in Yokohama, Japan.

Wirgman began his artistic career studying at the Royal Academy Schools in London. His talent was recognized early, and he was soon employed by the Illustrated London News, which was one of the world's first illustrated weekly newspapers. The publication sent him abroad to cover various international events, including the Anglo-French military campaign in China during the Second Opium War.

In 1861, Wirgman moved to Japan, which had recently opened to the West after more than two centuries of self-imposed isolation. He became one of the first Western artists to live and work in Japan, and his sketches and writings from this period provide valuable insights into Japanese culture and society during the tumultuous Meiji Restoration.

While in Japan, Wirgman founded The Japan Punch in 1862, mimicking the satirical style of the British magazine Punch. Through his caricatures and humorous commentary, Wirgman both entertained and informed the small but growing community of foreigners in Japan, as well as enlightened Western audiences about Japanese life. His magazine also offered an opportunity for cross-cultural exchanges, as he interacted with Japanese artists and intellectuals.

Charles Wirgman's work remains significant for its historical value and its role in fostering early Western understanding of Japan. He continued to live and work in Japan until his death in Yokohama in 1891.