Chrysant before 1896

Kazumasa Ogawa made this photograph of chrysanthemums sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It's not just a picture; it's a collotype, a printing process that predates modern photography. The image's beauty lies in its details: the texture of the petals, the way light and shadow play across the blooms. The collotype process gives it a unique depth and tonal range, setting it apart from a regular photo. It involves coating a glass plate with light-sensitive gelatin, exposing it to a negative, and then printing from that plate. This creates a print with a continuous tone, almost like a watercolor. Ogawa was a pioneer of photography in Japan, but also an entrepreneur. He established a printing company and published numerous photographic books, playing a significant role in introducing Japanese art and culture to the world. The collotype allowed for mass production, bringing art to a wider audience and impacting both labor and consumption during his time. By understanding Ogawa's techniques and the historical context, we appreciate the artistry beyond the image itself, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.