About This Print

Military, police and government officials are observing a map depicting the regions of conflict in Satsuma province where the Satsuma Rebellion 西南戦争 [or the Seinan Sensō (Southwestern War)] is raging.  In September 1877, when this print was published, disgruntled samurai under the charismatic leadership of ex-Meiji official and samurai Saigō Takamori 西郷 隆盛 had been waging war against the imperial government for almost nine months.  However, on September 24, 1877 the war would end with the decimation of Saigo's army at the Battle of Shiroyama and Saigo's death.

Pictured in the print are Sanjo Sanetome (1837-1891), Prime Minister (left panel, holding sword); Okubo Toshimichi (1830-1878), Minister of the Interior (center panel under red cartouche); Count Ito Hirobuni 伊藤 博文 (1841– 1909) (center panel, right most figure); and Kawaji Toshiyoshi 川路利良 (1834-1879), Chief of the National Police (right panel under red cartouche).

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Print Details

IHL Catalog	#447
Title	Report on the Actual Condition at the Battlefield (Senchi jitsukyō bunsō no zu  戰地実況聞奏之図)*
Artist	Kobayashi Toshimitsu (active 1876–1904)
Signature	應需 進斎 蛾 ōju Shinsai ga
Seal	進斎 Shinsai
Date	September 21, 1877 (Meiji 10)
Publisher	画工 古林栄成 [artist Kobayashi Eisei] 猿樂町二丁目三番地 [artist's address] 出版人 山中市兵衛 [publisher Yamanaka Ichibei] [publisher's address]
Carver
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	fair - three sheets joined with minor losses at joining, full-size sheets, repair of red tablecloth in center panel
Genre	ukiyo-e senso-e
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban triptych
H x W Paper	14 1/2 x 29 1/4 in. (36.8 x 74.7 cm)
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