Mannen bij de poort van een tempel in Shiba, Tokyo, Japan before 1903

This albumen print of men at a temple in Shiba, Tokyo, Japan, was created by Kusakabe Kimbei. The tonal range is gorgeous, running from near-white to rich, dark brown, and it’s the careful attention to these variations that I find so captivating. Look at the temple’s monumental doors. They are rendered with crisp detail, making their texture and weight palpable; the artist seems invested in the precise and detailed rendering of material. The surface of the print is smooth, yet there’s an undeniable depth, almost a glow, as if lit from within. This quality makes me think of the work of Eugène Atget, the way he captured Paris with such quiet dignity, using light to reveal hidden beauty in the everyday. This photograph is more than just a record of a place, it invites us to reflect on time, memory, and the enduring power of human presence. Like all great art, it's an ongoing conversation.