Battle at Kinshujô on the way to Ryojun (Ryojun-dô Kinshujô sen), Meiji period, dated 1894

This impression of the Kinshūjō battle print, dated 1894, is the second of three recorded versions and likely represents a distinct printing from the same block set, potentially showing variation in color application or ink density. During the First Sino-Japanese War, print publishers competed to release battlefield imagery quickly, and blocks were printed in high volume, producing noticeable variation between early and late impressions. Kiyochika's treatment of the battle emphasizes the atmospheric conditions of large-scale combat: smoke from artillery and rifle fire creates layered tonal planes that recede into the distance, while foreground figures provide human scale and narrative focus. The print participates in the broader Meiji project of visually constructing Japanese military prowess for a domestic audience experiencing their nation's first major modern military campaign, framed as both a defensive and civilizing mission in contemporary propaganda.