Gezicht op de Kiyomizu-dera tempel in Kyoto, Japan before 1903

This photograph of the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan, was captured by Kusakabe Kimbei, a Japanese photographer active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kimbei, like many of his contemporaries, catered to the Western fascination with Japan during the Meiji era. The Meiji period marked a time of rapid modernization and Westernization. Kimbei was a key figure in producing images that both documented and aestheticized Japanese culture for a foreign audience. His photographs often portrayed idealized scenes, carefully composed to meet the expectations of Western consumers. Consider how gender dynamics play into this image. Kimbei, as a male photographer, controlled the narrative, often depicting women in traditional roles or as exotic figures. This photograph invites us to consider the complexities of cultural exchange and the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation. It urges us to reflect on who gets to tell the story and how those stories are shaped by the gaze of the beholder.