絵本明治太平記
This is a Japanese illustrated history (ehon) compiled by Maki Kinnosuke and published in 1889, recounting events of the Meiji period in woodblock-printed pages with explanatory kana text. The pictures are dense black-and-white woodcut scenes of boats on rough water, a mountain landscape with a rising glow, a crowd of samurai-clad figures under a flag, and a table of seated officials, with text columns framing each image. A designer could take the strong black-and-white contrast, the dramatic silhouetted crowds, and the vertical text panels as a model for bold, graphic compositions.
