Tempelcomplex in Shiba, Tokyo, Japan before 1903

This is a hand-colored albumen print of the Tempelcomplex in Shiba, Tokyo, Japan, by Kusakabe Kimbei. Look at the composition! It's as if the artist is staging a scene in layers, carefully constructing space with a gentle hand. I imagine Kimbei delicately applying colors to the print, balancing the light and shadow to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The greens and browns of the trees seem to vibrate with life, while the soft pastels give a hazy, dreamlike quality. It reminds me of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s seascapes, where time and space converge. It makes me think about how every photograph is also a painting in a certain way, with light and color as the primary medium. Think about how Kimbei, in his own time, was also in dialogue with other artists and photographers, absorbing and building on their ideas. Art’s just one big conversation.