Twee gezichten op de Fukiage tuinen in Tokyo, Japan before 1893

Kazumasa Ogawa made this photogravure of the Fukiage Gardens in Tokyo, sometime near the turn of the 20th century. It’s made using a photomechanical process, so it’s technically a print, but one with a very specific character. Photogravure involves etching a photographic image onto a metal plate, then using that plate to make an impression. Look closely, and you can see the velvety texture created by the etched surface, very different from a typical photograph. It’s an elaborate process, requiring skill in both photography and printmaking. This combination of technologies and craftsmanship gave Ogawa more control over the final image, with the possibility of subtle tonal variations. Ogawa was a pioneer in bringing photographic techniques to Japan, opening a commercial studio and publishing many illustrated books. This print underscores how photography, even in its earliest days, was never a purely objective medium, but rather one shaped by human intention and technical expertise.