Japanse geisha's op weg naar een theehuis, Kioto 1900 - 1907

T. Enami invites us into a moment in Kioto with this photograph of Japanese geishas on their way to a teahouse. It has the slightly unreal quality of a dream. I imagine Enami carefully setting up his equipment, waiting for the perfect moment, trying to capture this fleeting scene. There's a sense of anticipation as the geishas approach, their kimonos a riot of colors and patterns. Look at how the light catches the fabric, creating a shimmering effect that feels both real and otherworldly. It feels like he's capturing something that's on the verge of disappearing. Painters like Bonnard or Vuillard often worked with photography and Japanese prints as source material, and I can see Enami's image on the same continuum. These artists are constantly in dialogue with each other across different mediums, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, finding new ways to represent the world. Ultimately, Enami’s image reminds us that art isn't just about capturing reality. It's about transforming it, filtering it through our own unique perspectives, and creating something new and beautiful in the process.