Onbekende Japanse vrouw in traditionele kleding speelt jeu de volant c. 1890 - 1895

Kazumasa Ogawa made this albumen print, entitled 'Unknown Japanese woman in traditional clothing plays jeu de volant'. Ogawa was a pioneering Japanese photographer and printer during the Meiji era, a period of rapid modernization and Westernization in Japan. In this image, the woman is captured in a staged, yet intimate moment. She is dressed in traditional attire, and the game she plays seems to be secondary to her presentation. This photograph exists within a complicated historical context. As Japan opened up to the West, there was a surge in images that catered to Western fascination with Japanese culture. Considering this, we might ask: does the photograph perpetuate or challenge stereotypes? It captures a specific cultural identity, but does it also reflect the complex negotiation of identity during a period of cultural exchange? The woman's gaze and posture may offer hints. Ultimately, this photograph serves as a window into a time of cultural transformation, inviting us to reflect on the interplay between identity, representation, and cultural exchange.