Twee gezichten op de Hamarikyu tuinen in Tokyo, Japan before 1893

Kazumasa Ogawa produced this collotype print of the Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo, Japan, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Hamarikyu Gardens, originally built in the 17th century as a feudal lord's residence, later became a public park, reflecting broader shifts in Japanese society. Ogawa’s work is intriguing because it documents the modernization of Japan during the Meiji era. The decision to open private gardens to the public mirrored the government's policy of embracing Western ideals, while still trying to preserve traditional Japanese aesthetics. The gardens became a site where the old and new could meet, where Japanese citizens were encouraged to cultivate a sense of national identity through leisure and recreation. To truly understand the historical value of Ogawa's prints, one might consult archives, government documents, and period newspapers. These provide insights into the social and cultural changes that shaped both the artist and the nation he documented. In the end, art like this allows us to reflect on the complex interplay between culture, politics, and identity in a rapidly changing world.