Blocking Device, from the Series ‘Long Live Japan! One Hundred Selections, One Hundred Laughs’ 1894

This is Kobayashi Kiyochika’s woodblock print 'Blocking Device, from the Series ‘Long Live Japan! One Hundred Selections, One Hundred Laughs.’ This print is part of a series produced during a time of rapid modernization and imperial expansion in Japan. This image uses caricature to depict the Japanese navy attacking what appears to be a monster, humorously titled "Bone-Skin Made Man." The sailors are shown dismantling the monster’s mouth with mallets and wooden beams. The print showcases the rise of Japanese nationalism and militarism, as well as the perception of Japan as a modern, technologically advanced nation. Prints like these were popular with the Japanese public, who consumed them as a form of entertainment and a way to stay informed about current events. To fully understand this image, we need to consider the social and political context of its creation, including the role of the Japanese government in promoting nationalism and militarism. We can research the artist's biography, the history of woodblock printing in Japan, and the political events of the time.