Theatre of Love｜Guimet Photographic Collection

Theatre of Love brings together a specially curated selection from the Guimet Museum. The portfolio reveals the traditions, rituals and cultures of the courtesans and pleasure workers within the famous ‘Yukaku’ (pleasure districts) of Edo’s Yoshiwara and Kyoto’s Shimabara in 19th century Japan. These designated pleasure districts played a major role in the conservative Edo society, as it was a place where samurai, wealthy merchants and commoners could meet with the working women. Seen through the eyes of photographers who both lived and travelled to Japan during the 19th century, the selection of images reintroduces these unique and invaluable prints in collotype.