Untitled 19th-20th century

This photograph of two women dressed in kimonos is an albumen print, made at an unknown date by an anonymous artist. The work is held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. During the late 19th century, the Western gaze often exoticized non-Western cultures, especially through photography. Here, the intimacy between the two women challenges the idea of them being merely objects of exotic interest. Their soft expressions and close proximity suggest a story, an interiority, that resists simple categorization. We must be sensitive to how such images contributed to the construction of the "Orient" as mysterious and sensual. The kimonos, hairstyles, and subtle makeup become markers of cultural identity, yet the anonymity of the subjects leaves us yearning for their individual narratives. Reflecting on this image, consider the untold stories and lived experiences of these women, and how their representation both shapes and defies the colonial imagination.