Temple Gate, Shiba, Tokyo c. 1890s

Editor: So, here we have "Temple Gate, Shiba, Tokyo" by Kusakabe Kimbei. It's a hand-colored albumen print and it feels almost like a stage set, doesn’t it? So meticulously arranged. What stands out to you? Curator: It does have that quality! For me, it’s the tension between the obviously constructed image, and this very real place in time. The gate itself, the Shiba, was part of a complex of temples. What do you make of the figure standing by the gate? Editor: It seems like he’s placed there to give scale to the building, and maybe to add a sense of everyday life. But it also feels a little...staged. Curator: Exactly. The artistry lies in the delicate balance between the real and the imagined, and it gives the photo its unique charm. Something to think about when considering the context, right? Editor: It is! I'll definitely be looking at photography differently now.