Great Victory of Our Forces at the Battle of the Yellow Sea, Fourth Illustration Possibly 1894

Editor: This woodblock print by Kobayashi Kiyochika, "Great Victory of Our Forces at the Battle of the Yellow Sea," shows warships on a choppy sea. The colors are muted, but the flags stand out. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Notice how the artist emphasizes the modernity of the warships. They represent not just military might, but also Japan’s rapid industrialization and its ambition on the world stage. What feelings do those flags evoke? Editor: Pride, maybe? Or perhaps a warning to other nations. Curator: Exactly. The artist uses these symbols to tap into powerful emotions related to national identity and the changing geopolitical landscape. This work commemorates a key victory, imbuing the scene with a sense of triumph but also the weight of responsibility. Editor: I hadn’t considered how much the ships themselves are symbols, too. Thanks for pointing that out.