This module focuses on visual images of women in Japan before photography. You will examine two types: portraits of real women and idealized 'beauties.' Like samurai portraits, these images often include inscribed texts guiding viewer understanding. You will overview painted and printed images, learning how contemporary viewers used them to interpret their world. Consider how these visual arts reflect social values.

How did early modern Japanese artists and writers 'capture the moment'? This module explores their methods and how these influenced Western photography's adaptation in the mid-nineteenth century. You will see how photographic representation integrated into the literary portraiture tradition, building on concepts from modules 1 and 2. Focus on the evolution of visual storytelling.

This final module traces the literary photograph's journey from the late nineteenth century into Japan's modern era. You will examine how photographic images of the human figure, often with inscribed literary writing or captions, became powerful social and psychological documents. We will summarize how visual and written representation combined. Reflect on how these artistic forms shaped modern Japanese storytelling.