Photographed by Herbert Ponting in 1910, this rare image shows a geisha in a private moment after washing her hair, before her elaborate coiffure and makeup were applied. Stripped of her iconic appearance, she appears human and vulnerable. Geisha, trained in music, dance, and etiquette, embodied cultural artistry, not romance. Though their numbers are fewer today, Kyoto’s districts keep their tradition alive, and Ponting’s photo preserves a fleeting glimpse of their hidden lives.
Herbert Ponting, who was known for his work in Japan before joining the Antarctic expeditions, published the photo in his 1910 book In Lotus-Land Japan. The image resonated with a Western audience fascinated by Japanese culture (Japonisme) and the mysterious world of the geisha.
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