Drie vrouwen en een man naast een riksja before 1892

Curator: I'd like to introduce "Three Women and a Man Beside a Rickshaw," an albumen print made before 1892 by William Kinnimond Burton. My initial feeling is of capturing a fleeting moment of societal transition. There’s a posed formality juxtaposed with the everyday activity surrounding them. What’s your take? Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the image's layered texture, typical of albumen prints. The stark contrast of the figures’ attire against the rickshaw, crafted from what appears to be lacquered wood and woven material, tells of different levels of artisanal and industrial labor. It reflects a complex materiality and craftsmanship, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely. This photography exists in a larger context of burgeoning Ukiyo-e printmaking and Japonisme that influenced artists and thinkers grappling with representing cultures and identity during this colonial period. Looking closer at the attire reveals socio-economic disparities as much as national and gender identity at play here. Editor: Absolutely, and we need to question the role that the camera has in shaping, recording, and frankly, consuming such differences. Photography creates commodities and objects for social and intellectual consumption by Western audiences, revealing the industry that helps perpetuate a narrative. I'm drawn to the details of how the photo was manufactured, distributed, and how labor was divided for consumption. Curator: Those production values further complicate our contemporary understanding of art. Looking beyond the figures captured, and towards your observation, let's investigate who these people might have been, and explore what those experiences reflect. Editor: Yes, it also makes me want to understand where it was sold, who made a profit from its consumption, what were the global trade routes used, etc. Curator: Reflecting on it now, understanding this piece forces me to think about the power relations that are deeply entrenched in visual representations of this time. Editor: Exactly. Recognizing its commodification underscores its impact as a carrier for culture and how that intertwines within these histories of art production and consumerism.