De grootse keizerlijke overwinning van de heftige Eerste Chinees-Japanse Oorlog 1894

This striking woodblock print, now at the Rijksmuseum, was created by Utagawa Kokunimasa. The print captures the intensity and chaos of the First Sino-Japanese War through its dynamic composition and vivid colours. The scene is constructed using bold lines and flat planes of colour to depict the heat of battle. Notice how Kokunimasa uses a triptych format to unfold the narrative across three panels, creating a sense of breadth and movement. The eye is drawn to the central figure, a triumphant Japanese officer on horseback, whose commanding presence is emphasized by his raised sword and the flag he carries, a symbol of imperial authority. Consider how the arrangement of figures and the use of perspective create a sense of depth and disorder, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of war and the construction of national identity in Meiji-era Japan. The visual structure, while seemingly straightforward, engages with cultural codes around heroism, nationalism, and the representation of conflict.