The Sino-Japanese War Woodblock Prints
Although the first Sino-Japanese War lasted less than a year, around 3,000 woodblock prints depicting scenes from the war were created. Dating back to the 17th century, woodblock prints were used as a vehicle for both propaganda and news decimination. The artists of these "war prints" offered the viewer a collection of animated and multicolored battlefront scenarios, a variety of dramatic illustrations of imagined heroes and villains, and a message of victory. A selection of Sino-Japanese War woodblock prints from the Navy Art Collection are featured below.
Attacking Pyongyang: Our Soldiers Conquer the Enemy Fortress, by Mizuno Toshikata, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1956 to 1958)
The Fall of Feng Huang Cheng: Putting the Enemy to Rout, by Mizuno Toshikata, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1959 to 1961)
The Courageous Fight of General Matsuzaki during the Battle of Songhwan, by Watanabe Nobukazu, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1962 to 1964)
Japanese Military Might Captures Pyongyang, by Ogata Gekko, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1965 to 1967)
Chinese and Japanese Troops in a Great Battle at Gaiping, by Nakagawa?, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1968 to 1970)
Braving the Bitter Cold Our Troops Set up Camp at Yingkou, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1971 to 1973)
Defying a Shower of Bullets, He Alone, Opened Hyonmu Gate, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1974 to 1976)
The Desperate Fight of the Warships Akagi and Hiei, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1977 to 1978)
Harada Jukichi Opens the Genbu Gate from Within the Fort of Pyongyang, by Mizuno Toshikata, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1979 to 1981)
Our Great Victory in the Battle of the Yellow Sea, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1982 to 1984)
Illustration of the Fierce Battle for the Occupation of Weihaiwei, by Utagawa Kokunimasa, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1985 to 1987)
Our Forces Great Victory in the Battle of the Yellow Sea, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1988 to 1900)
Great Japanese Naval Victory off Haiyaing Island, by Nakamura Shuko, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1991 to 1993)
Our Great Victory in the Battle of the Yellow Sea Fourth Illustration, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1994 to 1996)
Picture of Our Elite Forces Capturing the Pescadores Islands Taiwan, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-1997 to 1999)
After the Fall of Weihaiwei, the Commander of the Beiyang Fleet Admiral Ding Ruchang Surrenders, by Migita Toshihide, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-2000 to 2002)
Sino-Japanese War: The Occupation of the Port Arthur Battery, by Ogata Gekko, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-2003 to 2005)
Sino-Japanese War: The Surrender of the Port Arthur Battery, by Ogata Gekko, 1895, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-2006 to 2008)
Battle of Pyongyang, by Migita Toshihide, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-2009 to 2011)
Victory at Pyongyang by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-2012 to 2014)
Hurrah for Japan: The Victory Song of Pyongyang, by Kobayashi Kiyochika, 1894, woodblock, 15h x 30w. (Navy Art Collection 2008-058-2015 to 2017)
