Theehuizen langs de oever van de Sumida rivier in Uenopark in Tokyo, Japan before 1897

Kazumasa Ogawa made this hand-colored collotype print of tea houses along the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photography, especially when hand-colored, often gets dismissed as a lesser art form. But this image provides us a glimpse into a time of rapid modernization in Japan, and the social transformations that came with it. We see not only the cherry blossoms in full bloom, but also the commercial activity that surrounded them, with tea houses catering to visitors. Ogawa's skilled use of the collotype process allowed for the mass production of images, meeting the growing demand for views of Japan during this period of increased global interaction. Hand-coloring adds another layer, as artisans would apply delicate tints to bring life to the scene. The combination of technology and handcraft reflects the complex interplay between tradition and modernity, and invites us to consider how the very act of making can imbue an image with cultural significance.