Woman and Attendant Walking at Night
Kusakabe Kimbei(?)
Baron Raimund von Stillfried(?)
ca. 1880-1910
A hand-coloured albumen print photograph showing two female models reenacting a scene of a woman and her attendant walking at night, an anachronistic scene evocative of similar motifs seen in Edo period ukiyo-e prints and paintings. The photographer recreated this moonlit outdoor setting within his studio, arranging rocks on the floor and using props like bamboo and a standing lantern. The backdrop features an artificial moon peaking through clouds, which was likely achieved through post-production manipulation of the glass negative plate, completing the illusion of the scene.
Although the photograph was likely printed by Kusakabe Kimebi's studio, by 1885, he had begun purchasing negatives from other photographers, including Baron Raimund von Stillfried, under whom he apprenticed. This practice makes firm attribution of the photo's original creator challenging.
Additional information
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