Japan, circa 1880
by Kusakabe Kimbei

As the first truly practical color film was not available until 1907, 19th century Japanese photographers hired artists to hand color each print. This image of two young Japanese women enjoying the Ikaho baths is a particularly exquisite example of such work. Taken by Kusakabe Kimbei, this photograph also contains Kimbei’s reflected image (along with his camera) just above the two birds on the left side of the scene.