One of Fifteen Triptychs of Famous Battlescenes 19th century

Editor: Here we have "One of Fifteen Triptychs of Famous Battlescenes," a 19th-century woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. The scene is chaotic and incredibly detailed, depicting a fierce battle with so many figures and structures. Given it is a woodblock print, what can we read from its material conditions and method of production? Curator: Well, looking at the production first: woodblock prints were essentially mass-produced at the time, intended for a wider audience than, say, a unique painted scroll. The carving, printing, and publishing would have involved collaborative workshop production and division of labour. How does the fact that this battle scene would have been acquired cheaply and relatively widely by the rising urban middle class affect how we should interpret its violent and gory depiction? Editor: That’s a fascinating point. The mass production suggests a potentially desensitized audience, maybe even a consumer appetite for stylized violence? Does this imply that the artwork itself becomes a commodity, like war itself? Curator: Precisely! Furthermore, look at the color palette—predominantly blues and reds achieved through specific dyes and pigments available at the time. The choices available shaped the image as much as the artist's decisions did. This connects to the larger sphere of trade networks. What raw materials, production knowledge, and social class does that suggest to you? Editor: Hmmm… the materials suggest to me Japan opening to global trade with Europe at the time, reflecting the society's economic growth and merchant activity, a world away from isolated artistic creation! It makes you reconsider the artwork. Curator: Exactly, it moves us to see beyond just an artistic skill into how economic and social forces are at play, reflected in and influencing these woodblock prints and their stories of samurai and military conflict. The print itself then acts as an indicator of cultural consumption. Editor: Thinking about the socio-economic factors transforms my perception of this art piece completely. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Material and social background sheds new light.