Bentendori c. 1891

Editor: So, this is Tamamura Kozaburo's "Bentendori," circa 1891, held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's a hand-colored photograph depicting a street scene in Yokohama. The light is really soft, almost dreamlike, and the straw decorations on the buildings are captivating. What’s your take on it? Curator: What I see is an intentional layering of gazes. Here, we have a Japanese artist capturing a Japanese street, likely for a Western audience. This creates a complex interplay of Orientalism and Japonisme. How much agency do you think the artist has in portraying his own culture versus fulfilling Western expectations? Editor: That’s a really interesting point! I hadn't considered the dynamic between the artist, his culture, and the potential Western audience influencing the depiction itself. It seems almost like a performance of "Japan-ness". Curator: Exactly. The hand-coloring, which adds to its romantic quality, was often used to cater to Western tastes. It’s essential to consider that Japan, during this period, was actively engaging with the West while also navigating internal social and political shifts. How does the presence of people, families in particular, affect your interpretation? Editor: Seeing those figures, especially the families, normalizes the scene. It grounds it in the everyday, providing a glimpse into their lived realities. I think it shows more intimate aspects. Curator: Precisely. So the photograph simultaneously caters to the exoticized expectations of the West, yet captures intimate glimpses into the daily lives of people actually living and working there. It urges us to look at historical images as more than mere records; rather, they are carefully constructed representations laden with cultural and political meaning. Editor: I’m now looking at this picture from a completely new angle. It shows how photographs can reflect both internal identity and external pressures. Curator: Indeed. This artwork reminds us to consider multiple perspectives when interpreting any cultural artifact. The exchange of cultural understanding shapes global identity.