1 Item (photographic print : on mount 25.7 x 20.5 cm, hand coloring, image 24.4 x 19 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
[1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
A woman in elaborate costume, with various kanzashi (hair ornaments), poses in indoor setting. Her ornate kanzashi with a sakura motif is reminiscent of those worn by oiran or tayu, the highest ranking of courtesan. Her clothing and hair accessories would suggest that she is perhaps either a real entertainer or a model dressed as one.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 28.8 x 22 cm, image 27 x 20.6 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia -- Japan
Date:
[ca. 1870s]
Scope and Contents:
Full body portrait of seated woman dressed in elaborate attire. The painted eyebrows high on her forehead suggest the style of makeup popular during the Heian period (794-1192) amongst nobility.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
A woman and young girl pose next to an ornate Hina-ningyo stand. Indoor studio setting.
Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day or Doll's Festival) is celebrated on March third, and households with girls usually display hina-ningyo (dolls) to ensure the girl's growth and happiness. Hina-ningyo are arranged on a five or seven tiered stand, with the emperor and empress at the top, three court ladies on the next tier, five musicians, two ministers and finally three servants on the bottom tier.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 22.7 x 28.8 cm, image 21.1 x 27.2 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia -- Japan
Date:
circa 1877
Scope and Contents:
View of beached narrow boat at Chugushi on Lake Chuzenji at Nikko, facing toward Mt. Nantai. A lone man sits in small rowboat near left foreground. Originally part of the Benjamin Lyman Smith album.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (photographic print : on mount 26 x 32.8 cm, albumen with hand coloring, image 20.6 x 26.8 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
[ca. 1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
Two sleeping girls in a futon upon tatami mats in a studio setting. A decorated folding screen and paper lantern stand in the background to the left, with a smaller, single panel screen to the right. A closed book lies near the upper left corner of the futon.
Biographical / Historical:
Born to a family of textile merchants in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Kusakabe Kimbei moved to Yokohama in 1859. Although unclear, Kusakabe apprenticed under either Felice Beato and/or Raimond von Stillfried (Bennet, T. (1996) Early Japanese Images. Charles E. Tuttle Company: Rutland, Vermont and Tokyo, Japan.) Kusakabe managed a studio in Yokohama, first at Bentendori until 1881, then later at Honcho. His photo studio was well received by many, including foreigners.
Local Numbers:
R009.5 (Rosin Number)
FSA A1999.35 009.5
General:
Title taken from printed label affixed to bottom center of mount.
This print also published under the title, "Japanese Futon." March, Philipp, ed. and Claudia Delank (2002). The Adventure of Japanese Photography 1860 - 1890. Heidelberg: Kehrer Verlag.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (photographic print : on mount 26.5 x 21.8 cm, hand coloring, image 25.9 x 20.5 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Trade cards
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia -- Japan
Date:
[1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
A young woman is seated in front of a mirror upon tatami mats in the motions of applying makeup. It is in a studio setting, for the mirror is turned at an angle to show the camera the woman's reflection. There is a bowl, small container and box with various things next to the woman.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (cartes-de-visite : on mount 10.2 x 6.3 cm, image 8.8 x 5.5 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Cartes-de-visite
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia -- Japan
Date:
[1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
A seated man dressed in Japanese kimono poses in an indoor studio. He holds a katana (Japanese sword) in his left hand, a folded fan in his right, and has a small sasuga (dagger) tucked in his waist. He is seated upon tatami mats. His attire and the presence of the katana would suggest that he is part of the upper class.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 41.5 x 32 cm, hand coloring, image 26.3 x 21.4 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
[1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
Fully dressed groom holds leather horse bridals. Possible indoor studio setting.
Biographical / Historical:
Felice Beato was born in Venice around 1825. During his lifetime, he accompanied the British troops in India, recording images of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and the Franco-British troops in China to cover the end of the Second Opium War in 1859. With his friend Charles Wirgman, Beato opened a photography studio in Yokohama, Japan in the early 1860s, and produced many images of the Japanese and their lifestyle, as interpreted by the Westerners. Selling his studio to Baron von Stillfried in 1877, Beato eventually died in Burma around 1908.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 40.3 x 29.9 cm, hand coloring, image 26.8 x 20.3 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
[1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
Woman in kimono and geta (wooden clogs) stands upon tatami mats holding an umbrella. Indoor studio setting.
Biographical / Historical:
Felice Beato was born in Venice around 1825. During his lifetime, he accompanied the British troops in India, recording images of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and the Franco-British troops in China to cover the end of the Second Opium War in 1859. With his friend Charles Wirgman, Beato opened a photography studio in Yokohama, Japan in the early 1860s, and produced many images of the Japanese and their lifestyle, as interpreted by the Westerners. Selling his studio to Baron von Stillfried in 1877, Beato eventually died in Burma around 1908.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
A man stands upon tatami mats in a studio setting. Two katana (Japanese sword) are tucked into his waist, and he holds a folded fan in his right hand. The crest medallions on his sleeves, as well as the presence of the two katana, hint at his upper class rank. Attributed to August Sachtler
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 49.1 x 34.3 cm, hand coloring, image 25.3 x 20.3 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
[1860 - ca. 1900]
Scope and Contents:
Two women in kimonos, with one holding an umbrella over the other. Indoor studio setting.
Biographical / Historical:
Felice Beato was born in Venice around 1825. During his lifetime, he accompanied the British troops in India, recording images of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and the Franco-British troops in China to cover the end of the Second Opium War in 1859. With his friend Charles Wirgman, Beato opened a photography studio in Yokohama, Japan in the early 1860s, and produced many images of the Japanese and their lifestyle, as interpreted by the Westerners. Selling his studio to Baron von Stillfried in 1877, Beato eventually died in Burma around 1908.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 31 x 46.6 cm, hand coloring, image 21.1 x 27.3 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
ca. 1875
Scope and Contents:
A Japanese colorist sits amongst paper scrolls and half finished photographs. Two Japanese print screens are propped against the shoji screen in the background.
According to Henry Rosin, this photo was taken in Beato's studio before it was purchased by Baron von Stillfried. The shoji screen in the background was used by Stillfried in many of his subsequent photographs.
Biographical / Historical:
Baron von Stillfried was an Austrian noble who arrived in Japan in 1868. In 1871, von Stillfried opened a photo studio in Yokohama under the name, Messrs. Stillfried & Co. In 1877, in partnership with Hermann Anderson, von Stillfried bought Felice Beato's studio and negatives, and continued to take photographs of Japanese people. He eventually left Japan for Hong Kong in 1881.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
1 Item (Photographic print : on mount 39.2 x 47.5 cm, hand coloring, image 22.5 x 19.5 cm.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Photographic prints
Place:
Asia
Japan
Date:
Before 1877
ca.1860-1877
Scope and Contents:
Three ornately dressed young women with powdered faces and dressed hair pose in an outdoor setting. A young girl dressed in rags stands to the right of the trio.
According to Henry Rosin, this print demonstrates Beato's artistry as as a master of capturing social conflicts.
This print is a pair with Baron von Stillfried's print of the same image, with the exception of the young ragged girl. (Rosin number 139) When von Stillfried purchased Beato's studio in 1877, he also purchased Beato's negatives, of which included "Three women and a girl." Since von Stillfried's studio was for commercial uses, he cropped out the young girl and cut the photo. Only very rarely can one find such clear evidence of the artistry of Beato and the commercialization of von Stillfried.
Biographical / Historical:
Felice Beato was born in Venice around 1825. During his lifetime, he accompanied the British troops in India, recording images of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and the Franco-British troops in China to cover the end of the Second Opium War in 1859. With his friend Charles Wirgman, Beato opened a photography studio in Yokohama, Japan in the early 1860s, and produced many images of the Japanese and their lifestyle, as interpreted by the Westerners. Selling his studio to Baron von Stillfried in 1877, Beato eventually died in Burma around 1908.
Henry and Nancy Rosin Collection of Early Photography of Japan. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Purchase and partial donation.
