Advancing across the Ansong River at the Battle of Asan Possibly 1894

Editor: This triptych, "Advancing across the Ansong River at the Battle of Asan" by Kobayashi Kiyochika, depicts a night battle. It’s striking how the bright explosions contrast with the dark landscape. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The woodblock print process itself interests me. Consider the labor involved in carving these blocks, and the economic context of producing these images for mass consumption as news illustrations during wartime. Editor: So, you’re thinking about the cultural impact of these readily available prints? Curator: Precisely. How did such accessible imagery shape public perception of the conflict and the materials used in its production? Consider the consumption of war as entertainment. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. It is always enriching to investigate how these images came to be.