E37 Suwa Lake c. 1887

Curator: Here we see Adolfo Farsari's "E37 Suwa Lake," a hand-colored albumen print from the late 19th century, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The hazy distance lends the scene a certain dreamlike quality. The textures are remarkable, almost tactile. Curator: Farsari operated a commercial photography studio catering to Western tourists. This image embodies the visual tropes sought by outsiders. Editor: The terraced rice paddies are striking, almost like an ascending staircase to the heavens. Water, as a symbol of purity and renewal, is powerful here. Curator: Indeed, these landscape views were highly marketable. They reinforced idealized perceptions of Japan's rural beauty. Editor: I see a tension between nature's raw power and human intervention. Curator: A tension that was deliberately curated for a specific audience and market. Editor: Well, regardless of its intent, this work transports me. Curator: For me, it triggers contemplation on representation and the consumption of culture.