Geisha's doen poeder op hun gezicht 1900 - 1907

This photograph of Geisha's applying powder to their faces was taken in Yokohama, Japan by T. Enami. It has a sepia tone and feels to me like a gentle wash of nostalgia. I wonder what it was like for Enami taking the photograph – what did they think about the Geisha's and what did the Geisha's think about them? The powder and rouge is so interesting, the tools of the trade. A little like the brushes and pigment that I use everyday in my studio. I think we can view these objects with a critical eye, but isn't there something gorgeous about adornment? The geishas enhance their faces, adding a layer of artifice, just as I add layers of paint to my canvases. Each carefully placed stroke and dab, shaping our experience of the world, both emotionally and intellectually. The image speaks to me of an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, inspiring my own creativity.