A Much Recorded War: The Russo-Japanese War in History and Imagery

A Much Recorded War: The Russo-Japanese War in History and Imagery was published to accompany an exhibition curated by Frederic A. Sharf, a noted collector and scholar of historical Japanese ephemera. The volume serves as a comprehensive study of the visual culture surrounding the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, a conflict that marked a pivotal moment in global geopolitics and served as a landmark event in the history of military reporting and propaganda.

The book highlights a vast array of historical imagery, ranging from official military prints and postcards to the sophisticated woodblock prints that captured the Japanese public's fascination with the front lines. Sharf’s design approach emphasizes the intersection of journalism and art, documenting how traditional Japanese ukiyo-e techniques were rapidly adapted to depict modern mechanized warfare, ultimately offering readers a window into how the conflict was framed for contemporary audiences.