Sergeant Kawasaki Crosses the River Taedongjiang Alone (Kawasaki gunsō tanshin Daidōkō o wataru) Possibly 1894

Editor: This is Mizuno Toshikata’s print, "Sergeant Kawasaki Crosses the River Taedongjiang Alone." The swirling water is so evocative. What do you make of the material choices? Curator: Consider the woodblock printing process here. The labor-intensive carving and layering of colors – what does this tell us about the value placed on both artistic skill and the subject matter depicted? This wasn't mass-produced in our sense. Editor: So, the printmaking itself elevates the soldier's actions? Curator: Precisely. The deliberate craftsmanship transforms this military action into a story worthy of careful production and consumption. It's propaganda, but also incredibly beautiful. Editor: I hadn't thought about the labor involved in creating the image itself. That perspective shifts my understanding completely. Curator: Indeed. It’s a testament to how the means of production shape our understanding of history and art.