Published 1890, Wake no Kiyomaro belongs to Short Biographies of Eminent Japanese in Ancient and Modern Times, Vol. 2. This trilingual biographical book presented exemplary Japanese figures to domestic and foreign readers. Biography served as both historical education and national self-representation in the Meiji period.

The title identifies the design’s particular figure, episode, object, or place, anchoring Gekkō’s composition in a larger network of historical narrative and cultural association. The catalog identifies landscape, men, moon, night, sea, and tree among the principal motifs. Gekkō uses their relationship to clarify action, season, setting, and narrative emphasis rather than treating them as interchangeable decoration.

As a book or album image, the composition was designed to be encountered in sequence and in relation to text, facing pages, and the physical act of turning leaves.

Additional information

Publisher

Kyushundo, Tokyo

Subjects

landscape, men, moon, night, sea, tree

Year Published

1890

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