What: A cover illustration from the June 1904 issue of Ladies Home Journal.
Where you can find it: On exhibit in “Japan-in-America: The Turn of the Twentieth Century” at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, 416 N. Indiana Ave.
Why you should care: The most resonant and durable image of the Japanese woman in America during the turn of the 20th century was Cio-Cio-San, the doomed young female character in “Madame Butterfly.” The figure of Madame Butterfly appeared in a host of formats, from postcards and cigar labels to advertisements and sheet music. In 1890-1913, Japanese femininity became stylish and fashionable in the U.S.
