Kunimasa V Utagawa, The Great Victory of Japanese Army at Asan
Artist: Kunimasa V Utagawa (Active in Meiji)
Title: The Great Victory of Japanese Army at Asan
Publication: Sawa Hisajiro
Date: 1894
Size: (L)37.8x 24.8 (C)37.2 x 24.7 (R)37.3 x 24.7 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.
Kokunimasa Utagawa
Kokunimasa Utagawa was an Ukiyo-e artists born into the long lineage of the Utagawa school. He was the eldest son of Baido Hosai, also known as Utagawa Kundisada III. He studied under his father in the Utagawa school style and tradition, his works reflecting the old style of woodblock print making. He continued in this traditional style of ukiyo-e, even as the rise of Shin-Hanga in the 1910s began changing the landscape of Japanese prints. Kokunimasa used the pseudonym Baido Kokunimasa from 1889 to 1896, but after 1891, he also used Kunimasa V as a signature. He is best known for prints of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars.
| Print Format | Triptych |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kokunimasa Utagawa |
| Subject | War |
| Dimensions | (L)37.8x 24.8 (C)37.2 x 24.7 (R)37.3 x 24.7 cm |
| Condition Report | Light watermarks, minor spots. |
