[Buddha Sculpture] 1870s

This photograph, taken by Japanese photographer Suzuki Shin'ichi in the 1870s, captures the imposing figure of the Great Buddha of Kamakura, a bronze statue of the Buddha Amida. The photo, which is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases the statue's immense scale as it sits amongst the surrounding trees. The figures in the foreground, dwarfed by the Buddha, serve to accentuate the immense scale of the statue. The image is a testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of the Kamakura period and the enduring power of Buddhist imagery in Japanese culture.