Ground Attack at Weihaiwei 1895

Kobayashi Kiyochika created this print of a ground attack at Weihaiwei, using traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques. The process begins with a drawing, which is then transferred to a woodblock, usually cherry. Using specialized carving tools, the key outlines are cut. Separate blocks are prepared for each color. The printer carefully applies pigment to the blocks, and then presses paper onto the surface to transfer the image. Here, the dynamic scene, with its explosive burst of light, relies on the precision of the woodcutter’s art, and the many stages of production that would have been involved in creating the image. As we consider the final artwork, it is important to remember the labor involved in its production: from the initial sketches to the many stages of carving, inking, and printing. Paying attention to materials and making allows us to appreciate the history of craft alongside the artwork’s social and political context.