Silhouette Postcards

The Leonard A. Lauder Collection of Japanese Postcards at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston includes five uncaptioned and undated silhouette postcards from 1906, the year after the Russo-Japanese War ended. Here, the anonymous Japanese artist has rendered “Russia” as bear, eagle, and hapless sailor, while “Japan” is represented by stalwart sailors and soldiers, as well as a burning sun. The last graphic in this run includes a tiny Korean figure holding a banner that reads “Great Victory of Great Japan” and, in smaller letters, “Kuropatkin Lost.” General Aleksei Kuropatkin was defeated by the Japanese in the great battle of Mukden in March 1905.
“Russian Bears VS Rising Sun,” artist unknown 1906 [2002.3405] Leonard A. Lauder Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
“Russian Bears VS Rising Sun”
[2002.3405]
“Tug-of-War between Japanese and Russian Soldiers,” artist unknown 1906 [2002.3403] Leonard A. Lauder Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
“Bears Pulling on a Russian Fleet”
[2002.3402]
“Bears Pulling on a Russian Fleet,” artist unknown 1906 [2002.3402] Leonard A. Lauder Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
“Tug-of-War between Japanese and Russian Soldiers”
[2002.3403]
Russian Soldier and Eagle with Russian Flag,” artist unknown 1906 [2002.3404] Leonard A. Lauder Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
“Russian Soldier and Eagle with Russian Flag”  [2002.3404]
“Japanese Victory: Captured Eagle,” artist unknown 1906 [2002.3406] Leonard A. Lauder Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
“Japanese Victory: Captured Eagle”
[2002.3406]
MIT Visualizing Cultures
Leonard A. Lauder Collection of Japanese
Postcards at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

“Asia Rising” by John W. Dower

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