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

Curator: Mizuno Toshikata created this woodblock print, "Sergeant Kawasaki Crosses the River Daidōkō Alone," sometime between 1866 and 1908. Editor: It feels incredibly lonely. The vast expanse of water, rendered with such stark lines, dwarfs the figure. Curator: Water, of course, is a powerful symbol. Here, it represents the divide between one state of being and another, the perilous journey of war, perhaps even the divide between life and death. Editor: The artist’s use of line to define the water's surface—short, choppy strokes—creates a sense of unease, almost like a visual metaphor for the sergeant’s struggle. Curator: Toshikata masterfully captures the psychological weight of duty and isolation that soldiers often experience. Editor: Ultimately, it's the stark composition, the sheer imbalance between the figure and the environment that leaves the deepest impression. Curator: Yes, a potent reminder of the individual's vulnerability within the larger context of conflict.