Our Destroyers Hayatori and Asagiri Sinking Enemy Ships at Port Arthur During a Great Snowstorm at 3:00 a.m. on February 14, 1904 (Waga kuchiku kantai Hayatori Asagiri taifÅ«setsu Ryōjun ni oite tekikan o chin suru no zu) Meiji period,

Editor: This triptych by Kōkyo depicts the sinking of enemy ships at Port Arthur during a snowstorm in 1904. It's incredibly dramatic! All that red against the dark sky... what are we meant to take away from the imagery? Curator: The red evokes fire, destruction, passion. It's visually arresting, yes, but consider what else it might signify. In Eastern iconography, certain colors carry prescribed meanings. Do you see any other symbolism at play here? Editor: The waves seem almost alive, and the snow feels ominous, not peaceful. Maybe it's about nature's power? Curator: Precisely. The chaotic waves and snow-filled sky embody the uncontrollable forces at work, both natural and man-made. This adds layers to the work. Editor: I didn't think about the snow and waves as symbols themselves, but now I get how they add emotional weight. Curator: Indeed. Images speak volumes when we learn to interpret their language.