Early summer in the country 田園初夏

SAKURAI Eiichi 桜井栄一

The kimono-clad girl in the center, playing in what may be a field of flowers in this rural landscape, has a powerful impact. Here the photographer has captured the invigorating air of early summer in a truly extraordinary manner. When published as the center spread in Geijutsu shashin kenkyu, this straight photograph marked a sharp break with the extreme deformation and rag-wipe retouching characteristic of the Expressionist style of Japan Photography Association work published in that magazine. In it, rather, SAKURAI attempted to reach the goal of the “perfect fusion of nature and humanity” advocated by NAKAJIMA Kenkichi.

Collection of: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Title: Early summer in the country
Original title: 田園初夏
Artist Name: SAKURAI Eiichi
Year: 1932
Material / Technique: Gelatin silver print on developing-out paper
Dimensions: 235x272mm
Accession number: 10004057
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum “Search the Collection”: https://collection.topmuseum.jp/Publish/detailPage/24961/