Out for a Walk 1868

Felice Beato captured this hand-colored albumen print, “Out for a Walk,” in Japan sometime in the late 19th century. Beato, of Italian-British heritage, documented East Asia during a period of immense political and cultural transformation. At the time photography in Japan was intertwined with Western fascination with the exotic ‘other’. Here, two women are seen in traditional attire, but their portrayal exists within a complex framework of colonial gaze and cultural exchange. The women are adorned in traditional kimonos, but it’s important to consider how these representations might have been curated for a Western audience, reinforcing stereotypes or romanticized visions of Japanese culture. This image prompts us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in photographic representation and the complexities of cross-cultural exchange. While the photograph offers a glimpse into a specific time and place, it also invites contemplation on the ethics of looking and the politics of representation.