[Japanese Women in Traditional Dress] 1870s

Editor: So, this is “[Japanese Women in Traditional Dress]” by Suzuki Shin'ichi, a photograph from the 1870s. The subjects and the mirror seem so intentionally placed. What's your take on what's going on in this photo? Curator: This photograph really speaks to the constructed image of Japanese women that was circulating in the West at the time. Think about who the intended audience was for these photographs: often, Western tourists wanting a glimpse of "exotic" Japan. Editor: Right, it's staged. So you think this photo tells us more about Western perceptions of Japan? Curator: Precisely. Consider the details: the traditional clothing, the careful composition. It presents a particular narrative. But, what aspects strike you as carefully curated for that external gaze? Editor: I guess the almost theatrical framing. It's like they’re creating a character. What did that mean for the women involved? Curator: That's key. The agency of the women is complicated. They are participating in the performance, but within the confines of a society undergoing rapid Westernization, and their portrayal feeds into a commercialized, exoticized image. Photography at the time held an inherent power imbalance between photographer and subject. Editor: It's powerful to think about it not just as a pretty image, but as part of a larger historical conversation. I learned a lot. Curator: Exactly. By examining such photographs, we start to understand how cultural identities are constructed and how images can reinforce—or challenge—social hierarchies. Thanks!