The Great Conference on the Conquest of Korea 1882

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print, titled “The Great Conference on the Conquest of Korea,” in the late 19th century. Yoshitoshi employed a traditional Ukiyo-e printing technique, which flourished during the Edo period. The process began with a drawing, which a wood carver then used to create a series of blocks, one for each color. The printer would then apply ink to these blocks and press them onto paper. The lines and colors speak to the incredible labor involved in this print, and the tradition that informs its making. Each impression required careful registration to ensure proper alignment of colors and details. The act of creating an image in this way is a collaboration between artist, carver, and printer. By appreciating the making of “The Great Conference on the Conquest of Korea”, we deepen our understanding of its cultural context. It reminds us that all artworks are the product of collaboration and tradition, and that there is no real separation between art and craft.