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

Editor: This is Mizuno Toshikata's "Sergeant Kawasaki Crosses the River Daidōkō Alone," a woodblock print. The lone figure amidst those churning waves is so striking. What do you see in the process of its making, given the materiality of the woodblock print? Curator: The printmaking process itself is key. Consider the labor involved in carving those delicate lines to depict both the soldier and the fierce river, versus the mass production of military images at the time. The print is not just an image, but a commodity produced within a specific social and economic context. It's both art and product. Editor: So, it's not just about what's depicted, but how it was made and its role in society. Curator: Precisely. The materials and the means of production are central to understanding its meaning and impact. I've learned to consider the artwork as a physical manifestation of a specific production process.