Afbeelding van de grootse overwinning van onze krijgsmacht na de hevige strijd bij Pyongyang 1894

This Triptych was made by Adachi Ginko, and depicts the Japanese victory at the battle of Pyongyang. It is made using traditional woodblock printing techniques, a process known as ukiyo-e. The production of ukiyo-e prints was a collaborative affair, involving the artist, a block carver, and a printer, each of whom were highly skilled artisans. The artist created the initial design, which was then transferred to a woodblock. The block carver meticulously cut away the areas that would not be printed, leaving the design raised on the block. Finally, the printer applied ink to the block and transferred the image to paper. As you can see, the flat planes of color and bold outlines, characteristic of ukiyo-e, lend the image a striking graphic quality. The battle scene is rendered with dynamic energy, with smoke and figures swirling across the composition. Although produced through a complex division of labor, the resulting prints were relatively inexpensive and widely accessible, contributing to a vibrant popular culture in Japan. By focusing on the means of production, we can appreciate how this print reflects both artistic skill and wider social dynamics.