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Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Iwona Karbowska

Friday 29 May 2015 13:07 BST

(Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair )

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Courtesans, geisha, samurai warriors, women playing instruments and traditional games are among the subjects portrayed in the most unique photography series of Edo-era Japan displayed at the London Photograph Fair.

The images, dated back to 1865, were taken by Felice Beato and are hand-tinted albumen prints (black and white photos hand painted to appear 'colour').

Beato, who was living in Yokohama at the time, documented Japanese everyday life over the years. He is often considered as one of the world's first photojournalists, who gained his fame as a war photographer.

A woman washing herself by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A woman washing herself by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

An elegant geisha in a garden by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — An elegant geisha in a garden by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

A young woman in a garden by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A young woman in a garden by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Family in traditional interior by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Family in traditional interior by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

House of the courtesans by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — House of the courtesans by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Musician group by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Musician group by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Portrait of a woman with a fan by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Portrait of a woman with a fan by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Women playing traditional game by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Women playing traditional game by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

A vendor selling baskets by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A vendor selling baskets by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Portrait of two women with fans by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Portrait of two women with fans by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

A woman and her child by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A woman and her child by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

A group portrait by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A group portrait by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Portrait on the river boat by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Portrait on the river boat by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Samurai warriors by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Samurai warriors by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Samurai warriors by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Samurai warriors by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Sumo wrestlers by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Sumo wrestlers by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Two women playing instruments by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Two women playing instruments by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

A woman with flowers by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A woman with flowers by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

A woman with tea by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — A woman with tea by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

Young women walking with umbrella by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair — Young women walking with umbrella by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair (Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair)

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1/21Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A woman washing herself by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

An elegant geisha in a garden by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A young woman in a garden by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Family in traditional interior by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

House of the courtesans by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Musician group by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Portrait of a woman with a fan by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Women playing traditional game by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A vendor selling baskets by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Portrait of two women with fans by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A woman and her child by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A group portrait by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Portrait on the river boat by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Samurai warriors by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Samurai warriors by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Sumo wrestlers by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Two women playing instruments by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A woman with flowers by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

A woman with tea by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Young women walking with umbrella by Felice Beato, 1865 © : Galerie Verdeau, Paris/The London Photograph Fair

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair

Stunning vintage photographs depict daily life in 19th century Japan

Galerie Verdeau, Paris / The London Photograph Fair