Gezicht op twee stenen bassins voor heilig water die deel uitmaken van het Taitoku-in mausoleum in het tempelcomplex Zojo-ji in Shiba, Tokyo, Japan before 1903

This photograph of two stone basins in Tokyo was taken by Kusakabe Kimbei. Imagine Kimbei setting up his camera, framing these basins in the temple complex. You can almost feel the quiet reverence of the space. The photo's sepia tones give it a dreamy quality, but what grabs me is the geometry. The straight lines of the architecture contrast beautifully with the organic shapes of the trees. I think Kimbei was drawn to this balance too, and the way the light plays on the surfaces, creating shadows that give depth and texture. It's like he's saying, "Look at how the man-made and the natural can coexist in such harmony." This photo reminds me of some minimalist sculptures, where simple forms carry profound meaning. Kimbei, like those sculptors, found something essential in the everyday and elevated it to art. It’s a reminder that beauty is often found in the quiet corners, waiting for someone to notice.