Photography album 19th-20th century

This photograph, titled 'Basket Seller,' is from an anonymous photography album. Images like this one, taken in the late 19th century, offer a glimpse into a moment when Japan was opening up to the West, and westerners were keenly interested in Japanese culture. Here, we see a woman in a kimono and a man with a conical hat, surrounded by an enormous collection of baskets. These images, often hand-tinted, were popular as souvenirs for tourists. But they also reflect the complex power dynamics inherent in the act of looking. How do we, as viewers, engage with the subjects of this image? Are we voyeurs, tourists, or something else entirely? Consider the distance between us and the individuals in the photograph, and the cultural exchange, or perhaps the cultural appropriation, at play. Think about the labor and artistry involved in creating the baskets, and the lives of the people who made and sold them. These historical photographs offer us a chance to reflect on how we see each other, and how we construct our understanding of different cultures.