Citizens Greeting the Carriage of His Imperial Majesty and Commander-in-Chief upon His Return through the Triumphal Arch (Daigensui heika gokan kôgaisenmon gotsûren shimin hôgei no shinzu)
by Ogata Gekko
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston
- Image courtesy of
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Description
This war-commemoration print documents a specific historical event: the public reception of Emperor Meiji upon his return through a triumphal arch, likely following the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95). Gekko produced an extensive body of war prints during this period, documenting both battlefield action and the ceremonial life surrounding Japan's military campaigns. This scene shifts from combat to civic spectacle — crowds of citizens lining a street to greet the imperial carriage, a Western-influenced triumphal arch serving as the compositional focal point. The image reflects Meiji Japan's self-conscious adoption of European military pageantry while asserting national pride. Gekko would have composed this from newspaper accounts and official imagery rather than direct observation, as was standard practice for war print artists.
More Prints by Ogata Gekko
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Frequently Asked Questions
Citizens Greeting the Carriage of His Imperial Majesty and Commander-in-Chief upon His Return through the Triumphal Arch (Daigensui heika gokan kôgaisenmon gotsûren shimin hôgei no shinzu) was created by Ogata Gekko (尾形月耕).
Citizens Greeting the Carriage of His Imperial Majesty and Commander-in-Chief upon His Return through the Triumphal Arch (Daigensui heika gokan kôgaisenmon gotsûren shimin hôgei no shinzu) depicts transportation.