Illustration of the Surrender of Port Arthur

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Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Illustration of the Surrender of Port Arthur

by Ogata Gekkō, 1894

IHL Cat. #545

About This Print

Source: Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery website http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/singleObject.cfm?ObjectNumber=S1999.60a-c
"An experienced illustrator, Ogata Gekko was experienced in making sketches and converting them into artistically effective finished works of art. Here he fills the scene with smoke billowing from an explosion as Japanese soldiers ... attack the Chinese troops."

A Chinese soldier pleads for his life as he is about to be struck down.
Mercy does not seem to be in the offing.

Attack on the Forts at Port Arthur

Source: The Sino-JapaneseWar, Nathan Chaikin, self-published, 1983, p. 82-83.
Seventeen forts defended Port Arthur, all "heavily armed with powerful Krupp and Armstrong guns..." It took the Japanese forces under five hours to capture the forts.

The attack was scheduled for November 21, at 6:50 a.m., with all siege guns roaring at the same time, awakening the Chinese garrisons in the Itzu-shan Fort. At 8 a.m. the fort was in Japanese hands (2nd Infantry Sakura Brigade), unopposed; at 8:10, all three forts were taken. At 11:10, the Pine Tree Hill for fell; at 11:25 a.m. the Two Dragon Hill fort was captured; all the other forts were abandoned by their garrisons.

"With the fall of Port Arthur, the Japanese were in possession of the finest dockyards in the Far East and a splendid naval base of operation at the enemy's back doors. Japanese losses: 18 killed, 258 wounded and 8 missing. The Chinese lost over 1,000 men."

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#545
Title or Description	Illustration of the Surrender of Port Arthur Ryojunkō kanraku no zu 旅順口陷落之圖
Artist	Ogata Gekkō (1859-1920)
Signature	Gekkō 月耕
Seal	Ungaikaku? 雲引客 square artist's seal below signature
Publication Date	1894 (Meiji 27)
Publisher	田村為吉 Tamura Tamekichi [Marks: pub. ref. 529; seal not shown]
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	good - full size unattached sheets; unbacked; soiling (particularly in the bottom right corner of the right panel) and minor toning
Genre	ukiyo-e - senso-e (Sino-Japanese War); Meiji era
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban triptych
H x W Paper	14 1/2 x 10 in. (36.8 x 25.4 cm) each sheet
Literature	The Sino-JapaneseWar, Nathan Chaikin, self-published, 1983, p. 87, pl. 61.
Collections This Print	Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 21.1543-5, 2000.192a-c, RES.27.203a-c; Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery S1999.60a-c; British Library shelfmark: 16126.d.2(90) and 16126.d.2(97)

last revision:

12/8/2020