Ginko Adachi, Vice Admiral Kabayama Attacking Chinese Navy, Meiji War
Artist: Ginko Adachi (1853-1902)
Title: Vice Admiral Kabayama Attacking Chinese Navy
Publisher: Fukuda Kumajiro
Date: 1894
Size: (L) 25.0 x 37.3, (C) 25.1 x 37.5, (R) 25.1 x 37.3 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.
Ginko Adachi
In the genre of Japanese Art, Ginko Adachi created prints during the Meiji period. His first artist name (Go) was Shosetsusai and he produced 50 actor prints in 1874 with this name. Ginko became famous for triptych war prints of The Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan Sensō) in 1877. He then changed his name to Adachi and published 'The Famous Places of Tokyo'. His other works include prints on the Sino-Japanese War, press coverage of events prints and female genre prints.
Ginko was later arrested and imprisoned for a year in 1889 for his caricature of the Meiji Emperor after the controversial Meiji Constitution decree. He continued to work after his release, but disappeared from public life shortly after in 1908.
| Print Format | Triptych |
|---|---|
| Artist | Ginko Adachi |
| Subject | War |
| Dimensions | (L) 25.0 x 37.3, (C) 25.1 x 37.5, (R) 25.1 x 37.3 cm |
| Condition Report | Light wear and soiling, minor stains, pinholes on the corners, light creases. |
