Vielle mendiant 1870s

Raimund von Stillfried made this hand-colored albumen silver print, titled "Vielle mendiant," that is, "Old beggar," in Japan, likely in the 1870s. During this period, photography studios flourished in Yokohama, producing images catering to the Western fascination with Japanese culture. Stillfried, an Austrian aristocrat, was among those entrepreneurs who employed Japanese photographic assistants and artists to create ethnographic studies. Stillfried's image presents a carefully constructed representation of poverty, playing into exoticized notions of the East. The woman's worn clothing and weathered face become symbols of a romanticized, yet distanced, view of Japanese society. This image was made for commercial distribution, thus reinforcing prevailing stereotypes. By examining archival materials, studio records, and travel accounts, we can better understand the complex social and economic context that shaped the production and consumption of images like this one. Understanding the art requires historical context.