Battle at Jinzhoucheng on the Road to Port Arthur Possibly 1894

Curator: This triptych, "Battle at Jinzhoucheng on the Road to Port Arthur" by Kobayashi Kiyochika, presents a scene of military engagement. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The starkness. The muted colors against the dark uniforms... it's quite chilling, evoking the dehumanizing aspects of war. Curator: Kiyochika was fascinated by Western printing techniques. Notice the use of perspective, not traditionally found in ukiyo-e, and the way light and shadow model the forms. It's all about the processes of modernity. Editor: And the implications of that modernity! This work romanticizes the First Sino-Japanese War, reflecting the imperial ambitions of the Meiji era. We have to ask, who is this narrative serving? Curator: Absolutely. Kiyochika's role as a visual chronicler meant catering to a specific audience and their desires. The print's accessibility also meant a wider consumption of militaristic propaganda. Editor: Right. So, we see it's a commodity and a political tool. Curator: Precisely. It makes you think about the function of art itself. Editor: Indeed. A potent blend of aesthetics and power.