Triptych: Harada JÅ«kichi was the First to Climb Up the Genbu Gate and Bravely Attack the Chinese Displaying Military Honor (Genbumon kōgeki zuiichi genkōsha Harada JÅ«kichi shi sentō funsen zu) Possibly 1894

Editor: This woodblock print triptych by Mizuno Toshikata depicts Harada Jūkich fighting Chinese soldiers. It’s…intense! What strikes me is the glorification of war. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This print needs to be understood within the context of Japanese nationalism and militarism rising during the late 19th century. Consider how it portrays Japanese soldiers as heroic and Chinese soldiers as weak or fearful. What do you think this idealization achieves? Editor: It seems to serve as propaganda, justifying Japanese expansion by promoting a sense of racial and cultural superiority. Curator: Exactly. It's crucial to critically examine such images and the power dynamics they reinforce. This isn’t just art; it’s a historical document shaping public opinion. Editor: I’m now seeing the piece as an active participant in constructing a biased narrative of war. Curator: Precisely, and it's a lesson about how art can be weaponized.