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TŌYŌ, OKAMOTO (1891–1969)
Spring Beauty of Kyoto
1925-29Folding concertina album | 33.2 x 30.5 x 8 cm (book in box) | RCIN 2862255
Unfolding like the panels of a Japanese screen, this album contains images of the former imperial capital, Kyoto, at cherry blossom season. Each photograph was taken using a simple vest pocket camera. This straightforward approach was a reaction against a complex, painterly style of photography that spread from Europe to Japan in the 1890s. Deliberately devoid of contemporary buildings and crowds, the tranquil views offer an escape from the city’s urban transformation.
