So, I got this image from: http://triptych.brynmawr.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/japanese&CISOPTR=57&REC=2
Title: An Afternoon Tea
1926-1927
Photographer: Takagi, T.
This is one of my favorite images and I feel is very iconic of Japan. Enjoy!
~Amy Kiyota
Thank you for the praise of the picture! It's one of my favorites (it's my computer wallpaper right now, actually.) As a matter of fact, it WAS taken by a tourist--me. (Although having grown up in Manhattan, when I saw you use the word tourist as applying to me I cringed a little bit.)
ReplyDeleteHowever, the fact that it was a pretty novelty manhole cover was not the reason I snapped it--it was a much more nostalgic reason, actually. It reminded me of mosaics I used to see in the streets of Manhattan that displayed things that were artistic or commonplace, but only someone who grew up in New York during the period around the time of my childhood would really understand.
This photo has that same essence. I don't know how much you know about Japan (I don't want to be rude by making assumptions, but I will anyway) but your name is Japanese, right? So I assume you know quite a lot. Can you tell WHERE this picture was taken just by looking at it? If you figure it out you'll probably understand why I was amused enough to snap it in the first place. (I gave you a major hint in the last paragraph up there ^_~)
I have an infintessimal amount of pictures that I've taken in Japan, some cool, some ABSOLUTELY beautiful. There's a link at the top of my blog, if you're interested in looking through them. There really are some hidden gems. If you end up using some in some way, please just ask me first?
I'm going to try to comment on your picture later--I'm half asleep and my brain's not working right now. But anyway, thank you, and re-comment if you think you know where I took it!
This is a very beautiful picture!
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting is that in the picture, some parts (kimono, flowers, and a teapot) get some colors on but other parts (the weman herself and background)don't. I guess that the photographer may want to express beautiful culture in Japan. So, the audience is gonna be people living outside of Japan. may be...
Anyway, thank you for the wonderful photo!!
Saika K
This is a beautiful "representation of a photograph". The subject seems to be a maiko, from her makeup, but her costume is a bit too subdued for apprentice status--it makes me wonder exactly what her role is. She's pouring tea--presumably for a customer--and is bent to concentrate on the task, her goal being to make the guest as comfortable and happy as she can. The surroundings seem to be deliberately blurred, apart from the flowers in the front, which quite obviously mimic the color scheme of her hair and kimono. Overall, the emotions evoked by the scene are very soothing and if not for the makeup and hairstyle, it seems like an almost homey scene.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the picture--it's beautiful!!
Obviously, the primary aspect of this photo that jumps out at me deals with the colors: some objects are given color, and others aren't. The woman's skin and hair, as well as the wall in the background, are left in black and white. On the other hand, her clothing, the tea objects, and the room's ornamental objects are portrayed in vivid color. Furthermore, other than the brown coffee table in the background, the only colors used are bright, light blue and gold. This serves to draw attention away from the woman's face and to place emphasis on the objects of the photo. In my opinion, it prevents the viewer from connecting with the woman on a more personal level.
ReplyDeleteI also see some sort of halo-like circle near the woman's head. I'm not sure, though -- it could just be a fluke in the physical photograph.