Kogyo Tsukioka, Japanese Army Attacking on Pyongyang, The First Sino-Japanese War
Artist: Kogyo Tsukioka (1897-1902)
Title: Japanese Army Attacking on Pyongyang（日軍平壌進撃之図）
Series title: The First Sino-Japanese War
Publisher: Okura Magobei
Date: 1894
Size: (L)25.2 x 35.5 (C)25.2 x 35.5 (R)25.5 x 35.4 cm
Original Japanese woodblock print.
Battle triptychs were produced in large numbers during the Sino-Japanese (1894 - 1895) and Russo-Japanese wars (1904 - 1905) to satisfy widespread interest in the progress of the imperial army and maintain popular support for the conflicts. The prints idealised the heroism of Japanese troops risking their lives for the emperor. As the demand for traditional woodblock prints fell in the Meiji era, many artists turned to wartime propaganda to make ends meet.
Kogyo Tsukioka
Tsukioka Kogyo was a Japanese artist of the Meiji period. He was a student and adopted son of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and also studied with Ogata Gekko. For most of his career Kogyo created prints centred on Japanese noh theatre, either as large-scale paintings or coloured woodblock prints, however he also did war and nature prints. Many of the latter were published in series and sold as multi-volume sets. Some sets have been preserved as albums in their original bindings, including accordion-style bindings known as orihon. Although original album books are primarily in institutions, single prints are popular in the Japanese antiques market.
| Print Format | Triptych |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kogyo Tsukioka |
| Subject | War |
| Dimensions | (L)25.2 x 35.5 (C)25.2 x 35.5 (R)25.5 x 35.4 cm |
| Condition Report | Light creases, minor soiling and spots. |
