Eko exhibition juxtaposes early Japanese photography with contemporary works at National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam presents "Eko – Japan in Two Visual Narratives," an exhibition pairing early photographs of Japan from its collection, including works by Felice Beato (1832-1909), with contemporary pieces by Anaïs López. Beato, an Anglo-Italian photographer, arrived in Japan at 31 after documenting conflicts in Crimea, India, and China. His staged images catered to Western expectations, featuring hand-coloured albumen prints that influenced Japanese photography. The exhibition highlights three photo albums collected by Dutch consul Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek (1833-1916), including Beato's earliest album from 1863, a precursor to his "Photographic Views of Japan" (1868). These albums, produced during the Bakumatsu period (1853-67), are considered primary sources for early Japanese photography. López's series "The Turtle and the Monk" uses gyotaku and photopolymer etching to create multimedia narratives blending fiction and documentary. The exhibition runs until 30 August. Accompanying publications include a catalogue by curator Sara Keijzer and "Lost Japan" by Rossella Manegazzo.