Geisha: A Photographic History \t\t 1880–1910

Hand-tinted images of geishas, courtesans and other 19th-century \t\t Japanese entertainers illustrate not only their history and culture, but also \t\t the development of commercial photography in this intriguing compilation \t\t assembled by husband-and-wife curators and collectors Stanley and Elizabeth \t\t Burns. Made by Japanese photographers for tourists who flooded the country \t\t after it opened to foreigners, these slightly faded images show geishas \t\t performing grooming, bathing and mealtime rituals on studio sets that conjure \t\t the luxurious interiors of feudal Japan. Printed in sepia tones and delicately \t\t washed in pastel colors, some were made by artists, who labored for hours on a \t\t single frame. An essay on the social history of the geisha analyzes the nuances \t\t of the clothing, postures and settings of these women, who were recognized in \t\t their own culture as artists, quite distinct from the prostitutes and \t\t courtesans sometimes accompanying the geishas' clients. Three essays and \t\t captions detailing Japanese history represent the key to understanding the \t\t symbolism in every image. But even as the authors seek to demystify the geisha \t\t and Japanese culture, the serene, tender and sometimes cryptic masks of the \t\t geishas retain an inexplicable allure. (Jan.)