Twee vrouwen dragen bezittingen over een weg in Japan na een aardbeving before 1892

This photograph of two women carrying belongings after an earthquake in Japan raises questions about the politics of imagery in times of crisis. In the wake of disaster, it is often the most vulnerable who are made visible. The anonymous photographer captures the resilience and burden of women who carry their meager possessions and children through the rubble. We might ask, what are the social conditions of art production and how does this image speak to it? Was this image made for local consumption, or for distribution abroad? Perhaps to elicit humanitarian aid? Its composition and perspective invite the viewer to contemplate the social and economic conditions that shape the lives of those affected by the earthquake. To understand the artwork better, we could research the history of disaster photography and the visual representation of women in Japanese culture. In doing so, we will consider how art can both reflect and shape our understanding of social realities.