Review of Troops at the Aoyama Training Grounds - Utagawa Kunimasa V (Baidō Kokunimasa)

A Meiji-era woodblock triptych depicting a military scene, showcasing the distinct style of Japanese war prints from the late nineteenth century.

This woodblock print, executed by Utagawa Kunimasa V (also known as Baidō Kokunimasa), belongs to the genre of sensō-e, or war prints, which gained popularity during the First Sino-Japanese War. The composition is a triptych, a common format for depicting large-scale military events or historical narratives in Japanese printmaking. The scene captures a specific moment of military discipline and authority, reflecting the rapid modernisation of the Japanese Imperial Army during the Meiji period.

The visual narrative focuses on the interaction between Japanese officers in Western-style military uniforms and their subjects. The artist employs a clear, linear style typical of late nineteenth-century woodblock production, where the focus remains on the legibility of the figures and the dramatic nature of the event. The use of colour is restrained, allowing the stark contrast between the dark uniforms and the lighter background to define the spatial arrangement. The inclusion of Japanese text blocks, or cartouches, provides context for the viewer, detailing the specific circumstances of the military review.

Technically, the print demonstrates the transition of Ukiyo-e from traditional subjects to contemporary reportage. The figures are rendered with a focus on uniform detail and posture, conveying the rigid hierarchy of the military institution. The print serves as a record of the visual culture surrounding Japan's military expansion, documenting the aesthetic and ideological shifts of the era. The composition is balanced across the three panels, guiding the eye from the mounted officer on the right to the central action, maintaining a sense of order and control throughout the scene.