In Bed c. 1887

Curator: Here we have Adolfo Farsari’s photograph, "In Bed." Editor: The light is lovely, soft. The women look peaceful, though perhaps a bit staged. Curator: It’s a hand-colored albumen print, which was a popular method in Japan at the time for Westerners seeking exoticized portraits. Consider the labor involved – the photographer, the colorist, the models, all participating in a visual economy. Editor: And the materiality: the way the color adheres to the albumen, creating depth. The quilts, the tatami mats, all carefully arranged for display. The visible labor is meant to be invisible. Curator: Precisely. This image, while seemingly intimate, reinforces power dynamics and colonial fantasies about Japanese women. It's as much about consumption as it is about representation. Editor: It certainly prompts thoughts about authenticity and the constructed nature of photographic images. Curator: Indeed, understanding the historical context helps us deconstruct those layers of meaning.