Cherry Blossoms (Spring) c. 1887

Curator: Let's discuss Adolfo Farsari's hand-colored albumen print, "Cherry Blossoms (Spring)." What strikes you first? Editor: Well, besides how lovely it is, I’m curious about the process. How did Farsari, an Italian photographer working in Japan, produce these hand-colored prints? It feels significant to understanding the image. Curator: Exactly! Focusing on the materiality, albumen printing involved coating paper with egg whites, making it light-sensitive. Hand-coloring further complicates the labor involved. Who applied the colors, and what does that tell us about Farsari's workshop and the global trade in exotic images for Western consumption? Consider the consumption of these images versus their initial production; what contrasts do you notice? Editor: It makes me think about how Western audiences might have consumed this image, perhaps detached from the intensive labor and cultural context embedded in its creation. Thanks for making me consider the making of the photograph! Curator: Indeed. Focusing on production helps us understand cultural exchange and its impact on the landscape.