Japanse schip Akagi Possibly 1894 - 1899

This black and white print, made by the Ordnance Survey Office, depicts the Japanese ship Akagi. The image of this warship raises many questions about the public role of art and the politics of imagery. What purposes did these images serve at the time? How did they shape public opinion and contribute to a national narrative? It’s useful to remember that the Ordnance Survey Office, as an institution, would have been instrumental in producing, circulating, and controlling such imagery. Understanding the social conditions that shaped the production of this print requires delving into the historical context of Japan. The image may offer insights into Japan’s evolving relationship with the rest of the world, as well as the nation’s own internal power dynamics. As historians, it’s our job to explore the resources that might shed more light on these questions. By consulting archives, historical documents, and scholarly research, we can begin to unravel the complex web of social, cultural, and institutional forces that shaped this image.