Mutsuhito, The Meiji Emperor

Uchida Kuichi

1873 · Albumen silver print from glass negative with applied color · Photographs

The Imperial Household Agency chose Uchida, one of the most renowned photographers in Japan at the time, as the only artist permitted to photograph the Meiji Emperor in 1872 and again in 1873. Up to this point, no emperor had ever been photographed. Uchida established his reputation making portraits of samurai loyal to the ruling Tokugawa shogunate.

Artist

Uchida Kuichi

Date

1873

Medium

Albumen silver print from glass negative with applied color

Department

Photographs

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1986