Drie zittende vrouwen in een woonhuis before 1892

This is a photograph, printed in a book, of three women sitting in a house, made by William Kinnimond Burton in Japan. It was a moment when Japan was opening itself to the West and Westerners were becoming deeply interested in Japanese culture and society. The photograph and the text surrounding it in the book create meaning through contrast. The author discusses marriage ceremonies in Japan and attempts to correct what he sees as misconceptions held by Westerners. The image supports this by displaying a quiet domestic scene with three women, possibly engaged in some sort of ritual or daily activity. The late 19th century was a time of significant social and political change in Japan, as the country modernized and adopted Western technologies and institutions. This photograph, with its intimate view of domestic life, offers a counterpoint to the broader narrative of modernization, inviting viewers to consider the lives of ordinary people in a rapidly changing society. To better understand this image, one might research the history of photography in Japan, the role of women in Japanese society, and the cultural exchange between Japan and the West during this period. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.