Naval Commander Hirose Takeo 1904

Kobayashi Kiyochika made this woodblock print of Naval Commander Hirose Takeo sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It's incredible how Kiyochika captured such a chaotic scene with such precision, using the woodblock technique to create bold outlines and flat planes of color. You can really see the labor and the process involved in building the image. The way the black ink defines the commander’s uniform, or the splintered wood of the ship, is really satisfying. I love how the sharp lines of the shattered wood contrast with the soft, billowing smoke. And the commander himself, standing so stoically amidst the destruction, like he's immune to the chaos surrounding him! It's a bit surreal, like he’s in the eye of the storm. Kiyochika was influenced by Western art, and you can see it in his use of light and shadow. It reminds me of some of Goya’s war scenes but with a distinct Japanese sensibility. Art is like this ongoing conversation, right? Always borrowing, transforming, and adding new layers to the story.