Japanese Nudes

The development of photography in Japan
In 19^th century Japan photography was immediately accepted as a “copy of the truth”. A commercial version soon emerged for the (Western) tourist market with images of semi-clad Geishas emulating the exotic and erotic Japanese bathing ritual.

By the early 20^th century photography was no longer seen as only a copy of the world but had also developed as an art form. Photographs were given a soft focus and were transformed giving them a dramatic character such as those of Unto Nakayama (act. 20^th century).

The 1930’s saw widespread experimentation in the field of photography including the introduction of various techniques and trends. Amongst trends was ‘New Photography’ which was based on a movement known as ‘New Objectivity’. The naked female body began to be seen as an aesthetic object. At the same time a counter movement known as photorealism emerged in which photographs were seen to reflect and record Japanese traditions such as those in the works of Iwase Yoshiyuki (1904 - 2001). Iwase’s ‘Pearl Divers’ is a famous example of this movement.

Subsequently movements such as social realism, subjective and experimental photography arose. In the latter genre artistic boundaries were sought and exceeded. Good examples can be found in the intuitive, grainy and blurred photographs of Moriyama Daido (1938 - ) and the surrealistic and abstract works by Honjo Koro (1907-1995).

The heyday of erotic photography was in the 1980s and 90s. Araki Nobuyoshi (1940 -) is famous for his pornographic photographs of women in bondage. He was also the first Japanese photographer who kept a diary, which added a very personal and intimate touch to his works.

Photographs by younger generations illustrate new trends, but also the influence and recognition of the works of previous generations. Gondaira Taichi (1956-) for example used his camera to document the classical beauty of the female body to pay homage the fading traditional Japanese values and way of life.

The works of young female photographers Nomura Sakiko (1967-), Hosokura Mayumi (1979-) and Okabe Momo (1981-) provide a fresh view of the naked body. The overall character of the works of these young female photographers is that the prevailing male view of the female body as a sex object has come under fire.