Overweldigende overwinning van het keizerrijk bij de hevige strijd om Pyongyang 1894

This color woodblock print by Utagawa Kokunimasa depicts the overwhelming victory of the Empire in the fierce battle of Pyongyang. Notice the motif of the raised sword, a symbol stretching back to antiquity, signifying power, authority, and righteous violence. We see its echo in Roman battle reliefs, where emperors brandish swords to assert dominance, and even in Renaissance paintings, where angelic figures wield them against demons. Consider the psychological weight of this gesture: it embodies not only physical force but also a psychological assertion of control. It transcends mere combat, engaging with primal fears and aspirations of dominance. The image vibrates with the tension between chaos and order, destruction and triumph, forever imprinted in our collective consciousness. The raised sword, a timeless emblem, reminds us of the cyclical nature of conflict and the enduring human quest for power.