Gezicht op de tuinen van een Daimio en een gezicht op de Satake-no-Niwa in Tokyo, Japan before 1893

Kazumasa Ogawa made this collotype print showing gardens in Japan. It was a period when photography was not just documenting the world but also actively shaping perceptions, both at home and abroad. The photographs offer serene views of meticulously designed gardens. We can see the careful arrangement of natural elements that were meant to evoke a sense of harmony. Consider the social context: Japan was undergoing rapid modernization during the Meiji era, and photography played a crucial role in showcasing its cultural identity. The gardens represent traditional values but were also being presented to a global audience, through publications and exhibitions, as a sign of Japan's sophistication. This collotype print invites us to reflect on the ways in which images of landscape can be used to construct and communicate cultural narratives. To fully understand this image, we would need to consult historical records, photographic archives, and studies of Japanese garden design and the history of collotype printmaking. The meaning of the artwork depends on understanding its complex social and institutional context.