Braving the Bitter Cold, Our Troops Set Up Camp at Yingkou Possibly 1895

Curator: This is Kobayashi Kiyochika's woodblock print titled "Braving the Bitter Cold, Our Troops Set Up Camp at Yingkou," now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, it feels like a scene shrouded in a sort of stoic sadness. The figures, almost silhouettes, huddle around this vibrant, but lonely fire. Curator: Kiyochika created these prints during the First Sino-Japanese War, and they were circulated widely, shaping public perception of the conflict and national identity. Editor: The artist renders the snow with such delicate detail. It gives me a visceral sense of the biting cold, despite the fire blazing right in the center. It is a scene of war, yes, but also an almost melancholic tableau of endurance. Curator: Indeed. These prints played a crucial role in fostering a sense of shared experience and sacrifice during wartime. Editor: It certainly makes you reflect on the human cost, beyond the grand narratives of war. A poignant image, really.