Geshas Dancing 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have an intriguing gelatin-silver print from the late 19th or early 20th century, called "Geshas Dancing." It depicts six women posed with instruments. There's something very formal and almost melancholic about it. How do you read this photograph? Curator: It's important to consider the materiality of the photograph itself. Gelatin-silver prints were becoming increasingly common, a process that allowed for mass reproduction and standardization. So, how does this relatively new method intersect with the traditional subject matter of Geishas? Editor: That’s an interesting point. So you’re saying that mass production techniques intersect with older traditions. Curator: Exactly. This image could have been intended for Western consumption, presenting an exoticized vision of Japanese culture. It invites us to question how the medium of photography contributes to shaping and disseminating ideas about labor, skill, and performance. The carefully constructed set with the folding screen, the arranged seating… Editor: You mean it might reflect the photographers decisions? Curator: Precisely, and that commercial consumption can shape the output and meaning of artwork as much as any artists intent. Consider what labor went into the photography itself. The labor to stage this, dress these women in elaborate materials. Consider it was for a commodity market. What would the life of these woman be? Editor: I see. I was thinking about the subjects but it makes sense to step back and consider how the image came to be made and its purpose. Curator: Ultimately it allows you to see how the production is consumed by outside market economies. We must keep these means in mind to understand not just an artist’s intent but art's function within material culture. Editor: It completely reframes how I see this image. Now I think it will guide my analysis. Thanks so much!