i’m jealous of… geishas in swimsuits?


Ok. I found these, loved them immediately, and then started searching high n’ low for the mixed media genius that created them. Turns out that they’re not collages… they’re photographs from the early 1900’s! I still don’t completely believe it, but apparently, it’s true. Yep, during the Meiji and Taisho Eras of Old Japan, photographing Geishas in swimwear was all the rage. Stripes, hits of candy-hues, fancy up-do’s… hang on a second… that’s all the rage NOW!

{The photographer(s) of these images are unknown… to me anyway. If you know anything about them, please leave a comment. Via FLAVORWIRE}






comments (16)

  1. marcia /// 08.23.2012 /// 7:23am

    lindas fotos.

  2. Lili Gabbiano /// 08.23.2012 /// 7:45am

    GEISHA pin up girls…nice…

  3. the jealous curator /// 08.23.2012 /// 7:46am

    sassy.

  4. Victoria Smith /// 08.23.2012 /// 9:58am

    very cool! love the unexpected colors!

  5. Maddee /// 08.23.2012 /// 10:24am

    love the sepia tone and the pop of color.

  6. the jealous curator /// 08.23.2012 /// 10:41am

    yes! that color makes them look so modern… that’s why i assumed these were new pieces, not 100 year old photos! ; )

  7. stephanie @ Baba Souk /// 08.23.2012 /// 11:59am

    Wow! I can’t believe it. I wonder what is the technique to add these color pop! I guess the pictures might be painted over?…

  8. the jealous curator /// 08.23.2012 /// 12:40pm

    yes, i think so. it looks like gouache, but i’m not sure. i tried to find out, but couldn’t find anything… i’ll keep looking ; )

  9. Laura /// 08.23.2012 /// 8:17pm

    These were postcards!
    http://www.vintag.es/2012/08/colour-photos-of-swimsuit-girls-of-old.html
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/24443965@N08/sets/72157604130143141/

  10. the jealous curator /// 08.23.2012 /// 8:38pm

    i know! how amazing would it be to have one of those arrive in your mailbox! ; )

  11. Erin /// 08.27.2012 /// 10:53am

    they’re cool but pretty creepy- don’t you think they look like, super young?

  12. the jealous curator /// 08.27.2012 /// 12:52pm

    yes – i thought that too…

  13. Lucy /// 08.28.2012 /// 4:22am

    Pretty sure they are hand coloured with paint/oil and old technique which is rarely used because of the invention of colour photography. Before that people would colour photographs themselves, looks easy but is hard not letting the colours run!

  14. the jealous curator /// 08.28.2012 /// 6:08am

    thanks lucy! : )

  15. Mathias (Fotografie MD) /// 01.06.2013 /// 3:26am

    Wow, that’s quite a find!
    On a recent trip to Albania, I was able to view a small collection of glass plate negatives of late 19th century partisan fighters in traditional dress. No fancy colours but the same sense of “far away in time but somehow eerily familiar”!
    Mathias

  16. Bathing Geishas | ArtisticMoods.com /// 03.25.2015 /// 1:23am

    […] found these via The Jealous Curator. The authors are unknown. If you have information about this, let me […]