Twee mannen die geisha's selecteren voor een optreden in een theehuis in Japan c. 1896 - 1906

This photograph, by Kōzaburō Tamamura, seems to capture a quiet, almost staged moment. It depicts two men selecting Geishas, or so it seems. There's a stillness to the scene, right? The light is muted, and everyone seems caught in their own thoughts. I wonder what Tamamura was thinking when he took it, what he wanted us to feel. Maybe he was thinking of what it means to be a woman in that time period. What their hopes and dreams may have been. It's interesting how the figures are arranged, kind of like a carefully arranged composition. You almost get a sense of the past, you know? The way things used to be, but also how much has changed. It’s like Tamamura is showing us a slice of life, inviting us to reflect on the passage of time and the stories that unfold within it.