K?zabur? Tamamura, portrait of a geisha, albumin paper, black and white positive process, hand-colored, image size: height: 24.00 cm; width: 19.00 cm, inscribed: recto o. r.: printed in blue: 37, travel photography, portrait photography, profile (side view), folk costume, regional costume, geisha literally means person of the arts. Geishas are educated women who have been entertaining their mostly male society with dance, music and song as guests in tea houses since the 17th century. They are also engaged as waitresses at festivities. Visually, the geisha differs from the courtesan in details of her clothing, although in the photographic staging, little value was placed on the historically correct wardrobe. In the fantasy of the 19th century traveler, the artistry of the geisha is mixed with ideas of sexual availability. (Aya Fujita)