Excellent condition overall. The print is remarkably well preserved, with only slight fraying along the outer edges. The lines remain sharp and the colors vivid, resulting in a striking and highly displayable image.
This original Meiji-period woodblock print triptych depicts a scene from the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, the last major armed uprising against the modernizing Meiji government.
Titled Kagoshima Seito Senki ("Oral Account of the Subjugation of Kagoshima"), the work was designed by Kobayashi Kiyochika around 1877–1878, making it a contemporary visual record of one of the most important conflicts in modern Japanese history.
The composition portrays dramatic battlefield action during the rebellion led by Saigō Takamori, often remembered as the "Last Samurai." Rich colors, dynamic movement, and detailed military costumes capture the intensity of the conflict as Japan transitioned from the age of the samurai to a modern nation-state.
The Satsuma Rebellion has become one of the most famous events in Japanese history and later served as part of the historical inspiration behind the film The Last Samurai. Unlike modern interpretations, however, this print was created during the actual period of the conflict, providing a contemporary perspective on events as they unfolded.
Kiyochika was one of the most important artists of the early Meiji era, known for documenting Japan's transformation through a combination of traditional ukiyo-e techniques and modern subject matter. His war prints are particularly valued for their historical significance and their role in recording the dramatic changes taking place in nineteenth-century Japan.
A superb example of Meiji-period military ukiyo-e, combining historical importance, strong visual appeal, and excellent preservation. Suitable for collectors of samurai history, Japanese military art, and Satsuma Rebellion material.
