Splendor of the Procession of General Grant from America (Beikoku Guranto-shi go tsūkō no han'ei) 1879

Toyohara Kunichika created this woodblock print, "Splendor of the Procession of General Grant from America," now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work's composition hinges on a stark contrast between the foreground and background. Silhouetted figures dominate the front, their forms rendered in dense blacks and greys, while behind them a detailed, colourful procession unfolds. Kunichika uses the formal device of the silhouette to explore themes of public spectacle and obscured identities. These figures, lacking individual features, act as viewers, framing our perspective on the procession itself. Notice how the flags, symbols of national identity, are sharply defined against the ambiguous forms of the spectators. This strategic use of form invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in such displays of national pride. The artist challenges us to think about how the individual is absorbed into the collective gaze. The use of silhouette not only simplifies form but also complicates the relationship between viewer and spectacle.