Inari c. 1887

Editor: This photograph is called "Inari," taken by Adolfo Farsari. The rows of red torii gates create such a striking visual tunnel! I wonder about the materials and process involved in its creation. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Let’s consider Farsari’s studio practice. He mass-produced these hand-colored albumen prints for the tourist trade. The materiality of the print itself becomes a commodity, divorced from any singular artistic vision. How does this affect our understanding of its cultural significance? Editor: So, it's less about individual expression and more about the means of production and consumption? Curator: Exactly! This challenges the traditional view of art as a unique, handcrafted object. The image, endlessly reproduced, speaks more to colonial dynamics and the commodification of Japanese culture. Editor: That’s a completely different way of seeing it than I initially thought. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Examining the materiality and the social context really transforms our interpretation.