Maneuvers by Three Categories of French and English Soldiers (Furansu Igirisu sanhei ōchōren no zu) 1867

This print was made by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and it's called "Maneuvers by Three Categories of French and English Soldiers." It’s a woodblock print, a process requiring a sharp knife to carve an image into wood, which is then inked and printed. See the stark lines and flat planes of color? These are characteristic of the medium. Woodblock printing was a commercial process, allowing for the widespread distribution of images. The astonishing level of detail was achieved through a division of labor. In the late 19th century, prints like these often depicted Western subjects. The choice of subject matter speaks to Japan’s engagement with the world stage. The mass production of these prints also reflects the industrializing forces at work in Japanese society at the time, as well as the country’s growing military ambitions. So, next time you look at a print, think about the labor involved, the social context, and the way that the materials and processes used can shape our understanding of history.