Some Japanese Flowers: Photographs by Kazumasa Ogawa. Like New Hardcover

Some Japanese Flowers: Photographs by Kazumasa Ogawa. Like New Hardcover. Captivated in his youth by the new technology of photography, Kazumasa Ogawa (1860–1929) became one of the most enterprising and important early photographers, technicians, and printers in Japan. Born shortly before the Meiji era (1868–1912), or period of “enlightened rule,” and educated in both the United States and Japan, Ogawa produced a range of illustrated books for the Western market. His work focused on traditional architecture, scenic views, and subjects associated with Japanese culture, such as national festivals, military tableaux, ritual customs, costumed geisha, and flowers. An original, deluxe edition of Ogawa’s 1896 book of hand-colored collotype prints, titled Some Japanese Flowers, in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, is reproduced here in its entirety. These beautiful photographs feature flowers native to Japan, such as the lotus, several varieties of chrysanthemum, lily, and morning glory, as well as garden scenes. In addition to thirty-eight full-color plates, this small-format, stitch-bound book contains an 1890 portrait of Ogawa as publisher of Japan’s first photography magazine, Shashin Shimpo (Photographic journal). An accompanying essay traces Ogawa’s distinguished career and describes the collotype process used to produce his exquisite flower images, collected here again for the first time since the late nineteenth century. About the Seller: The Friends of the Shorewood Public Library is a non-profit membership organization which supports the mission of the suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin library. Member volunteers raise funds from book sales and other efforts to help the library purchase resources and sponsor special events for the community. eBay sales are among these fundraising activities. This eBay item was not in library circulation, but was donated by a reader ‘friend.’