Kajima & Suwo, Japanese doctor taking the pulse, 1902

A quiet moment of healing, preserved in the soft hues of a bygone Japan.

Details

• Museum-grade fine art reproduction of an original hand-colored photograph from the Meiji period (1868–1912), Japan

• High-resolution reproduction sourced from a 1902 image by the renowned photographic team Kajima and Suwo

• Carefully restored and printed to preserve the richness of hand-tinted color tones

• Ideal for collectors of Japanese photography, history enthusiasts, or admirers of traditional medicine and culture

About the artwork

This evocative Meiji-era image captures a traditional Japanese physician performing a pulse diagnosis — a cornerstone of Kampo, Japan’s classical medical system. The doctor, dressed in black robes, sits opposite a young woman in a violet kimono, her hand resting gently in his as he reads her pulse with quiet focus. A wooden medicine box, tea set, and formal setting with shoji screens and a circular lattice window provide an intimate and historically rich backdrop.

Meticulously hand-colored, the image reveals subtle tones in clothing and interior textures, emphasizing the care and reverence once given to the art of healing. Photographed by Kajima and Suwo in 1902, this is not just a portrait of a medical practice — it’s a preserved moment of compassion and cultural tradition.