Having been invented in France in the first half of the 19th century, photography arrived in Japan at the end of the Edo era (1603 to 1868), and was used to record a wide range of subjects. Kazumasa Ogawa (aka Kazuma or Isshin) (1860 to 1929) was a photographer who was active in the later half of the Meiji era (1868 to 1912), when photography had spread throughout society. The portrait of Japanese author Souseki Natsume that was formerly featured on the 1,000 yen note was taken by Ogawa. Many people have likely seen Ogawa’s works at one time or another.
Kazumasa Ogawa differed from other photographers in that he not only took photographs, but created and published many printed works through photoengraving. Photoengraving is a method used to make printing plates based on negative and positive principle using photographic technology. It started in Japan during the Meiji era, and continued to be used by printers to make plates. In the Meiji era, long before the arrival of television and radio broadcasting systems, the standard form of mass communication media consisted of printed matter such as newspapers, magazines, and books. Photographic illustrations played a significant role in the growing publication industry.
This exhibition introduces materials related to photomechanical printing, centering on the two types of the process introduced by Ogawa―collotype and halftone printing. This exhibition explores how photoengraving changed printing and underlines the major impact that Kazumasa Ogawa had on the development of visual media and the formation of the visual culture of modern Japan.
In closing, we received information and valuable materials from many cooperators, in particular the EDO-TOKYO MUSEUM. I’d like to offer my deepest gratitude to all who provided assistance and support in the opening of this exhibition and the creation of the picture book.