19th century photographs
Portrait of Unidentified Samurai in Armour by Suzuki Shin’ichi I (1835-1919), c.1873-76. Albumen print from wet collodion negative.
The man in the photo clad in armour has the proud but sad and wistful gaze of someone who knows that while he is young in age, he is also part of the old guard. He comes from a disappearing world. As the title of Daniella Dangoor’s exhibition coming up at the London Photograph Fair Special Edition on May 19-20 puts it, he is the Last of the Samurai.