Untitled (picking tea) c. 1887

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Adolfo Farsari, taken sometime in the late 19th century, and it depicts tea pickers at work. Editor: The composition is striking; the eye is drawn across rows upon rows of verdant bushes, dotted with figures, a panorama of organized labour. Curator: Absolutely, and understanding Farsari’s background is key here. As an Italian expatriate, he capitalized on the burgeoning market for souvenir photography in Japan, meticulously hand-colouring images like these. Editor: The application of color adds to its appeal, softening the industrial aspect. But it also somewhat romanticizes the repetitive physical labour involved. I wonder what the laborers thought. Curator: Indeed, the image speaks volumes about the socio-economic dynamics of the time, the commodification of Japanese culture, and the market demands of Western tourists. Editor: It’s a complex piece—beautiful, but also a reminder of the global exchange and its impacts.