Tea House waitress 1870s

"Tea House Waitress" is a hand-tinted albumen print by Suzuki Shin'ichi, a prominent Japanese photographer of the 19th century. Created in the 1870s, the portrait showcases a young woman in traditional Japanese dress, her kimono adorned with intricate floral patterns. The photograph captures the subject in profile, her gaze directed downwards, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation. This evocative image is a valuable glimpse into Japanese society during a period of significant cultural change, and it currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.