Albumin print, Japan, hand-colored, Nagasaki Harbor, Takaboko Island, Pappenberg, circa 1885

This historical photograph shows a panoramic view from Japan from the late Meiji period that is equally fascinating both scenically and historically, taken as an original albumin print mounted on cardboard. The albumin process used was the dominant photochemical technique of that era, in which egg white was used to bind the light-sensitive silver salts to the paper.

The motif documents the picturesque entrance to the strategically significant harbor of Nagasaki with the prominent Takaboko Island, which is world-renowned in the Western cultural sphere under the historical name Pappenberg. This island possesses a profound historical relevance, as it served as a tragic site in the 17th century during the era of Christian persecution in Japan, from whose steep cliffs faithful Christians were plunged to their deaths. The image composition captures the elevated view over lush green, forested rolling hills enclosing a sheltered bay in which traditional wooden boats and ships lie at anchor. In the wide, hazy background, the silhouette of Takaboko rises from the calm waters of the Meiji era. The absolute highlight of this artwork, composed in landscape format, is the elaborate hand-coloring. Japan was the absolute world leader in this precise hand-coloring technique, used to create the impression of a lifelike color photograph.

Since renowned pioneers such as Kusakabe Kinpei or Ogawa Kazuma were responsible for this masterful series, the work is presumably attributed to these prominent circles. This document originated in the years around 1880 to 1890. The antique rarity features the photograph dimensions of 26,5 x 20,7 cm mounted on a 28,2 x 22,2 cm original cardboard backing and is in good age-appropriate condition with an even, slight toning. It shows a waviness of the cardboard due to storage, partially somewhat yellowed cardboard margins, and a slightly faded image surface, as well as the original white caption immortalized within the photo negative at the bottom right margin: "B 201 TAKABOKOJIMA, NAGASAKI."