Nagasaki c. 1891

This hand-colored albumen print captures Nagasaki, made around the turn of the 20th century by Tamamura Kozaburo. From a high vantage point, we observe the arrangement of the city, with the harbor acting as a focal point. The harbor is filled with ships, symbols of connection, trade, and perhaps, impending change. Water, an ancient symbol of purification and renewal, appears here as both a connector and a potential harbinger of transformation. Think of the ships in ancient Greek art, often carrying heroes or gods, linking distant shores. This archetypal image resonates through time. The composition invokes a certain tension. The serene beauty of the landscape is juxtaposed with the bustling harbor. This visual contrast stirs a deep-seated emotional response, the serene surface hiding the possibility of disruption, reminding us of the cyclical, non-linear progression of history, where symbols re-emerge, evolve, and take on new meanings.