How Photography Shaped the Portrayals of Japanese Women in Late 19th- and Early 20th-Century Japan

Abstract

Japanese photography, in the new capitalist consumer age of visual media, places women in the role of consumer or site of commodification—objectified as a commodity for monetary gain. While late 19th-century photographs of Japanese women portrayed them mainly in subordinate roles as sites of commodification, it can be argued that photography at the turn of the century introduced women in more dominant roles—as consumers with purchasing power in new forms of visual media, controversial images, and advertisements. This article investigates the history of photography in Japan and its visual representation of women in early media, artistic photography, journalism, and advertisements. By exploring various themes, historical events, and artistic/political movements in late 19th- and early 20th-century Japan, I observe some clear trends and shifts in how women came to be represented, as well as how they chose to represent themselves. Photographs, articles, and a case study of a popular Japanese women’s magazine, Fujin Gahō, reveal how Japanese women were at times a symbol of modernity that challenged old ideas, but also served to promote the traditional image and expectations of Japanese women.