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JUNE 2024 SALE OF FINE ARTS AND COLLECTIBLES
Lot 53:
This woodblock print is part of a series of battle triptychs under the title "The First Sino-Japanese War" depicting a Japanese naval victory against the Chinese at Dagu mountain.
Battle triptychs were produced in large numbers during the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars to satisfy widespread interest in the progress of the imperial army and maintain popular support for the conflicts. The prints idealized the heroism of Japanese troops risking their lives for the emperor.
Gekko Ogata (1859-1920) worked as a decorator of lacquer wares and pottery, as well as an illustrator for books and newspapers. These experiences made him a versatile artist and helped him develop his own style when he turned to printmaking. After the Sino-Japanese war erupted, Gekko took up another subject and started creating war prints. As a war correspondent for a newspaper company, he accompanied the troops to the battlefields, made sketches of the battle scenes and turned them into prints back at home in Japan.
Japan – 1894
As a Whole: 14 1/4 x 27 1/2 in., (36 x 70 cm.)
Provenance: Ex-Private Kensington, London, UK.
Condition: Very good overall. The left and center panels are joined. Creases along the edges and folds. Soiling and foxing throughout, as well as wear and tear along the margins.
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