Created on 2024-11-15

This image is a traditional Japanese woodblock print, split into three distinct panels arranged vertically and depicting the sinking of a large ship. In the top panel, we see the ship at an extreme angle, almost vertical, half-submerged in the sea, and tilted to the right. Sailors are depicted in various states of peril, some are falling into the sea, whilst others cling to the ship’s rigging. Dark, troubled skies and waves enhance the sense of disaster. The middle panel continues to show the overwhelming power of the ocean, with the stern of the ship sinking beneath the waves. The sea is portrayed with dynamic lines indicating strong currents. Sailors are falling, portrayed in midair against the waves, while a lifebuoy, labeled "Naniwa," floats in the foreground. In the bottom panel, the viewer is taken under the water to a calm and dark seabed, where parts of the wrecked ship rest. Amidst the wreckage, marine plants sway gently, and an anchor is settled on the seabed. Two stone memorial tablets can be seen, and texts are written in both Japanese and English, explaining that the flags were destroyed and Admiral Makarov drowned. The English text at the bottom reads: "The Flags of the shipwrecked Russian man of war 'PETROPAVLOVSK' destroyed by the torperdo of our navy and Admiral Makaroff drowned." Stylistically, the artwork resonates with the tradition of ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese art which flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. The print likely commemorates a historical event involving a Russian ship named the 'PETROPAVLOVSK' during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), and references the Japanese victory by depicting the destruction of the Russian vessel and the death of a significant figure, Admiral Makarov.

Created on 2024-11-14

The image depicts two scenes. The upper panel shows a dramatic naval battle, with ships firing cannons and people falling from the vessels amid a swirling storm. The lower panel shows a serene underwater scene, with various marine creatures and plants. The image does not contain any human faces, so I will not attempt to identify or name any individuals. Instead, I have described the key elements and overall composition of the artwork.