Japan on a Glass Plate: Photographs from the Kurokawa Collection

Drawing from an extensive, Swiss private collection assembled over many years, this exhibition presents a unique selection of nineteenth-century photographs of Japan, many of which are shown for the first time.

With the influx of Westerners to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) came the rise of the Japanese photo industry. Partly created as souvenirs for foreign travelers, these pictures soon came to act as a prepackaged guide: Before long, the tourist's first stop in Japan was the photographer's studio, where he ordered the handsomely made photo album that would help set his itinerary. It is noteworthy that these photographs became increasingly popular among a Japanese clientele as well, competing and co-existing with the market of the woodblock prints.

But more than this, these photographs reveal an astounding virtuosity, not only in composition but also in the technique of hand coloring, which brought these views of daily life, splendid gardens, bustling cityscapes and theatrical performances to a new level of vividness. These photographs also convey a true and resonant picture of Japanese society at a time when Japan opened up to western ideas and people, modernizing at a rate that was unprecedented in human history.

Japan on a Glass Plate provides an elegant overview of Meiji-era photographs, originating from both Japanese-owned and foreign-owned studios. Displayed around three sections which reflect the defined genres—famous places, customs and types, beauties—they highlight the outstanding artistry and historic value of these documents. A special cabinet will be organized around technique.

The exhibition is based on what probably constitutes the largest private collection of Meiji photography in the world. The Kurokawa collection is known for its comprehensiveness, including works from virtually every photographic studio active in Japan and for its exceptional state of conservation.

A group of six Meiji woodblock prints will point to the iconographic continuation and similarity between the old tradition and the modern innovation.

Japan on a Glass Plate leaves the visitor with a unique glimpse into this pivotal moment in Japanese cultural history and the history of photography.