Authentic photographs from 1895 to 1915 – restored and made accessible again in their original aesthetic presence. A growing archive with thousands of images from Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, with a special focus on Japan c. 1900.
A curated art project by David Gautier.
Our collection contains thousands of historic photographs, many of them hand-colored around 1900 – a time when color in photography was a precious, labor-intensive craft.
These rare color works, often created in specialized studios, give the images extraordinary depth and presence. We restore them carefully and present them as high-quality master editions while preserving their original grain, paper structure and surface.
The turn of the century marks a transition:
Hand-coloring around 1900 was never mass production. Each image was an individual act of interpretation: colorists had to understand light, fabrics, skin tones, religious robes, architecture and atmosphere.
Today, these works are rare – and sought after by collectors, museums and photography enthusiasts worldwide.
The archive of 1899art grows continuously. Alongside European and American city views, we maintain a strong focus on hand-colored Japanese photography c. 1900:
Key Japanese studios & photographers represented or referenced in our focus:
This archive is a historical mirror of the former website www.t-enami.org, which is no longer available online. The original author, Rob Oechsle (Okinawa Soba), explicitly encouraged the copying, sharing, and preservation of his texts and documentation for research and educational purposes. This archival version exists solely to safeguard the work of T. Enami and to prevent the loss of valuable historical material as parts of the original site and its images have already disappeared from the public web. All intellectual credit remains with Rob Oechsle. Where possible, missing or broken elements from the Wayback Machine version are restored or linked to their surviving sources on Flickr.
Coming soon:
Images from the 1899art Archive may be linked, shared, and embedded on external websites only in their original, unmanipulated form, provided that clear attribution to “1899art” is given and a visible link to https://1899art.com is included. Any modification, alteration, recomposition, recoloring, AI processing, or commercial reuse beyond simple linking and sharing is not permitted without prior written consent.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A group of colonial-era travelers stand beside an early automobile. The figures are arranged outdoors, suggesting a posed scene during a journey.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored image shows a carved stone multi-headed naga serpent sculpture at Angkor. Trees and stone structures appear in the background outdoors.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An ornate stone lintel carved with floral vines and a central human figure. Broken stone blocks lie nearby, with green foliage behind the ruins.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view of a carved stone elephant statue on a raised platform among trees. Two people are partially visible near the statue in the foliage.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored view shows a tall stone pillar with carved reliefs. Weathered masonry blocks surround the pillar in an outdoor ruin setting.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored stone relief panel shows several carved figures in a group. Some hold vessels and gesture, surrounded by intricate patterned details on the stone surface.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored stone relief shows mythological figures, animals, and tree motifs in two horizontal registers. Intricate carvings depict dynamic poses and a narrative scene.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A carved bas relief panel shows several human figures in a busy scene with animals, trees, and architectural details. A large ship appears among the figures, suggesting a narrative tableau on stone.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view of a carved Buddha figure on a temple wall at Angkor Wat. The figure wears an ornate headdress and raises one hand near the chest.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored view of a stone relief showing a long boat crowded with figures rowing and standing. Fish, trees, animals, and additional people surround the vessel in dense carved detail.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A long stone pathway lined with carved pillars runs through dense forest. The path leads toward an ancient shrine structure, with green foliage and stone details hand colored.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored stone relief shows seated and standing figures carved within a temple wall. A central figure sits beneath an architectural niche surrounded by smaller figures and ornate motifs.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An elevated view shows the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia. Stone towers and courtyards are surrounded by dense greenery.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view shows Angkor Wat’s towers rising beyond the temple complex. A calm moat in the foreground is bordered by greenery and a few small figures walking.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored view shows Angkor Wat’s weathered stone structures and intricate carved details. The scene focuses on layered masonry and decorative reliefs within the temple ruins.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Handcolored view of Angkor Wat’s weathered stone ruins with intricate carvings. Serpent-headed balustrades, pillars, and patches of grass appear under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A person in white and orange climbs steep stone steps at Angkor Wat. Carved stonework and temple architecture rise behind and around the figure.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A farmer guides two water buffaloes through a flooded rice paddy. Palm trees stand in the foreground, with a distant ship and hills under a partly cloudy sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Twelve boys stand outdoors in a close group, wearing worn traditional garments. Many are barefoot, and several outfits show patches and heavy use.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A young boy sits beside large wooden containers, eating rice soup with a spoon. Behind him, a brick wall is covered with weathered posters and notices.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An ornate stone ramp is carved with a large dragon amid clouds and mountain motifs. Worn stone steps flank the ramp on both sides.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two children stand on a concrete surface beside a brick building, looking down at shattered pottery. The younger child holds a toy while the older holds an intact jug.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An ornate Chinese temple entrance with a tiled roof and colorful decorative details. Stone steps and railings lead up to the gateway, with trees framing the right side.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A traditional Chinese temple gate with ornate roofs stands on angled wooden supports. Trees and a body of water appear behind it under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A close-up portrait shows an elderly man with a long white beard wearing a dark cap. Behind him is a carved wooden surface with intricate decorative patterns.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An elderly man with a long goatee wears a blue cap and a yellow robe. He faces the viewer with a gentle expression before a carved wooden backdrop.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A barefoot man in extensively torn clothing stands before a brick wall. He holds a metal bucket with both hands and appears disheveled.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A marble arched stone bridge spans calm water beneath a clear sky. Leafless trees line the banks around the bridge.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A large Nine Dragon Wall displays nine brightly colored dragons above stylized waves. A young boy stands at the right near leafless trees, showing the wall’s scale.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view of the Temple of Heaven’s round pavilion with a tiered roof. A red and gold building corner frames the right side beneath a blue sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored view shows the Temple of Heaven pavilion with a golden roof and ornate painted woodwork. The building is framed by an arch, with stone steps leading to the entrance.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three men sit on a wooden bench operating a large vertical loom with hanging threads. The rustic workshop contains wooden furniture and handwoven textiles nearby.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A young girl stands on a dirt road holding a large bundle of root vegetables. A stone wall and grassy area appear behind her in a rural setting.
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From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three men sit behind a ground display of durians with baskets of bananas and other fruit nearby. A bamboo fence and hanging clothes appear in the background as the vendors wear traditional clothing and hats.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A crowded outdoor market is filled with vendors and shoppers in traditional dress. Palm trees and low buildings line the background beneath a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view shows the Empress of Britain ocean liner on calm water. Three large smokestacks rise above the ship, with black smoke under a lightly clouded blue sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A group of people in traditional garments stand and sit around a dug hole in a highland forest. Tall trees with distinctive foliage surround the gathering.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two women in traditional dress and head coverings pound grain with wooden pestles. They work outdoors at a large wooden mortar with vegetation behind them.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored scene shows a large open-air laundry with many wash stations and workers. Trees and wooden tubs surround the organized rows of washing areas.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: The Gateway of India monument stands with ornate arches and four domed turrets. Vintage cars and horse-drawn carriages sit nearby, with a ship on the water behind.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored view shows the interior of a Hindu temple with ornate pillars and carvings. Several men stand and sit within the space near the central shrine area.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A sprawling Indian fort complex with domed pavilions, stone walls, and open courtyards. Trees fill the interior spaces, framed by layered terraces and arcaded structures.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: The interior of a Jain temple is shown with intricately carved stone pillars and an ornamented ceiling. At the far end, a central shrine with a statue sits beyond a short set of steps.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A busy street market lines a tree-shaded road with stalls and baskets of produce. Vendors and shoppers sit and stand along the roadside, tending goods and conversing.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A hand-colored view of a grand Mughal gateway with ornate arches and small domes. Broad stone steps rise to the entrance, with a fortified wall extending to the right.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Tai Mahal Two ornately inlaid marble Mughal tombs rest within a decorated railing. Arched windows admit natural light onto floral and geometric patterns.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: India Tai Mahal an ornate marble jali screen displays floral carvings and colorful inlays. It stands indoors beside an arched window with a hanging brass lamp behind.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An ornate temple complex stands amid lush gardens and decorative sculptures. A still reflecting pool in the foreground mirrors the architecture and nearby palm trees.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two farmers pose with a traditional ox cart pulled by two white oxen. One sits on the cart while the other stands beside the animals, with trees and a building behind them.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two oxen pull wooden carts with thatched roofs along a paved rural road. Trees and a bamboo fence line the countryside in the background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: The Rajabai Clock Tower rises above a garden of tall trees and palms. The yellow-toned tower has white Gothic detailing and clock faces near the top.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two women stand among tea bushes picking leaves, each carrying a large woven basket on her back. They wear traditional clothing and are barefoot on rocky ground with misty hills behind.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A crowd in traditional dress gathers before an ornate stone temple with carved details. Tropical plants and a decorated thatched structure with red cloth suggest a ceremonial gathering.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view shows an ornate stone temple gateway with carved figures. Tall palm trees rise behind and around the structure.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: The exterior of Borobudur Temple rises behind tall trees with exposed roots. Stone terraces with carved reliefs and several stupas are visible under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Handcolored view of stone stupas lining a curved walkway at Borobudur Temple. Mountains rise beyond the temple under a pale blue sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three children in yellow traditional costumes pose with arms extended outdoors. Intricate headdresses and patterned skirts stand before a brick wall in shadow.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two women sit on mats painting batik designs on fabric stretched in frames. Tools and containers rest nearby as they work on floral and geometric patterns.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A shop-lined street with rickshaws leads to a large stairway rising into a wooded hill. People in traditional clothing gather along the road at the base of the steps.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: People cross a metal bridge toward traditional buildings at a hillside entrance. A long stone stairway climbs through dense greenery in the background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view of Benten Street shows paper lanterns and flowering branches strung overhead. People in traditional clothing walk along a dirt road with a clock tower in the distance.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Boys sit on the floor at low wooden tables painting porcelain objects. Brushes and small paint containers are arranged on the tables in an indoor room.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A large procession of Buddhist monks and laypeople stands along a sloped path. Many wear traditional robes and carry long red ceremonial objects as the crowd stretches into the distance.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: People in traditional Japanese clothing gather beneath blooming cherry blossom trees. Some sit on red-covered benches while others stand, including a woman carrying a child.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Blooming cherry blossom branches frame a hillside view. A wooden torii gate stands at right above a hazy townscape below.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Children in traditional kimonos hold hands in a circle outdoors. A blindfolded child stands in the center as the others face inward.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A young Chinese boy stands on a dirt path carrying bundled firewood on a pole over his shoulder. He smiles with eyes closed against a light blue sky and barren ground behind him.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A man pulls a rickshaw carrying two women in traditional clothing along a sandy coastal path. Wooden buildings sit among trees on a rocky shoreline beside calm water under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An elderly Chinese man with a long white beard faces the camera. He wears a worn, tattered garment against a softly blurred background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An elderly Chinese woman in dark traditional clothing wears a white apron and brown headscarf. She smiles gently in front of a blurred natural background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A busy street is lined with wooden buildings and tall vertical banners with Japanese characters. People in traditional clothing walk beneath bamboo-supported banner poles in a festive setting.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A five-story pagoda rises among trees and nearby buildings beside a calm pond. A winding path traces the water’s edge, with a foreground tree showing a partially white-painted trunk.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A Japanese Buddhist monk stands in traditional robes with red and yellow accents. He holds a wooden ritual object and prayer beads against a dark background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: China: Men in green robes carry an ornate palanquin in a festival procession. The group walks along a road with bare trees under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Wooden houses line a stone embankment beside a rocky river. A person in traditional clothing stands near the water with forested hills behind.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three women in patterned kimonos stand around a thatched-roof shelter in a wooded setting. Hand coloring emphasizes their clothing and the surrounding greenery.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A Japanese woodworker sits on the floor and cuts a plank with a large saw. Tools and stacked boards surround him inside a workshop.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A large seated Buddha statue dominates an outdoor setting with trees and stone lanterns. Two visitors stand and kneel at the base of the statue.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A large seated Great Buddha statue sits outdoors amid trees and greenery. Several visitors stand on the stone platform at its base.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A calm lakeshore scene shows a small sailboat near the water's edge and people on a rocky shore. A red torii gate stands at the right with green hills in the background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A group of women in kimono stand along a riverbank beside leafy trees. A few umbrellas are visible, and distant buildings sit across the water.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A busy Japanese street is lined with tall vertical banners on both sides. People in traditional clothing move among small wooden shops, suggesting a festival scene.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three women and a child in kimonos walk across a wooden bridge over irises. A thatched gazebo and seated figures appear among trees and garden greenery.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A broad lotus pond is filled with pink blooms and wide green leaves. In the background, a wooden temple and nearby buildings sit among tall trees.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A wide bay bordered by green hills with several sailing boats on the water. Cultivated fields and stone markers appear in the foreground near shoreline buildings.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two wooden boats carrying people move along a calm river. Mount Fuji rises snow-capped in the distance beneath a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A dirt path lined with tall trees leads toward a wooden torii gate and shrine buildings. Low fences and stone borders frame the walkway in a quiet wooded setting.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: An ornate shrine entrance gate with layered roof details stands above a stone staircase. Three stone lanterns sit in front, with dense forest behind the gate.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A garden is filled with blooming blue and purple iris flowers. People in traditional dress walk among the flowers near trees and small structures.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Flooded rice fields stretch across a valley beneath a clear sky. A dirt road along the left hillside shows two rickshaws and one person.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three people thresh rice outdoors among bundled straw in a rural yard. Wooden and stone buildings surround the working area, and the scene is hand-colored.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three women in kimonos participate in a tea ceremony inside a Japanese room. Two sit on tatami near a small hearth while a third stands holding a fan by a folding screen.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A large crowd gathers at the entrance to Sensoji Temple in Japan. Visitors in period clothing walk and stand beneath banners and parasols.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A traditional Japanese handicraft shop is filled with woven baskets, brooms, and wooden boxes. A woman in traditional clothing sits examining a wooden box while a cat rests nearby.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A Japanese garden scene shows a pond with a statue amid dense foliage. Several figures in traditional clothing stand near paths and a thatched-roof building.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A traditional Japanese wooden sailboat with a large white sail floats on calm water. Several people are on board, with forested hills and shoreline buildings in the distance.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A wooden bridge is crowded with people, horses, and carriages crossing a river in a Japanese town. Traditional buildings and distant hills appear beyond the bridge under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two women sit on the floor working silk thread with wooden frames and tools. An indoor room with a patterned wall and simple floor covering is visible behind them.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two rickshaw pullers carry seated passengers along a path beneath blooming cherry trees. Pedestrians in traditional clothing appear near fences and houses in the background.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A Japanese woman sits on a tatami mat in a traditional room, applying makeup while looking into a small mirror. She wears a dark patterned kimono with red accents and has her hair styled in a traditional manner.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Three women in patterned kimonos stand on a stone path in a garden. Trees and dense greenery surround them, with a small wooden pergola at left.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A handcolored view of Yokohama’s waterfront with streets, buildings, and greenery in the foreground. Sailing ships sit anchored across calm harbor waters under a clear sky.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: A wooden outrigger boat with a large sail rests on calm water near a tropical shore lined with palm trees. Two men work on the deck beside a large container while another small boat floats nearby.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Women in traditional clothing and white headscarves harvest tea leaves in a field. They carry woven baskets on their backs among rows of tea plants.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two large guardian statues holding staffs flank a temple entrance. Intricate roof decorations and surrounding greenery frame the brightly colored scene.
From the 1899art Archive - Photos by T.ENAMI STUDIO: Two ornate Thai temple prangs rise against a clear sky. Detailed sculptures and colorful embellishments cover the tiered structures.
Purpose of this site
1899art is intended as a reference and context resource for the history and surviving works of the Yokohama School of hand-colored photography.
It does not claim to be complete and will be expanded over time. You can buy the restored pictures in our Etsy shop.Etsy – fine art prints & limited editions
Contact
📧 contact@1899art.com
Focus
Historical research, visual analysis, digital preservation and curated examples of original works from the period c. 1860–1920.
This website is currently in its early phase. Further sections on sources, studios and bibliography will follow.
enamistudio.org is part of the wider 1899art project: www.1899art.com.
Usage Rights & Legal Notice – 1899art Archive All images published on 1899art.com originate from the 1899art Archive and are provided for cultural, educational, and historical reference. Permitted use: Images may be linked, embedded, or shared on external websites and platforms exclusively in their original, unmanipulated form, provided that: the source is clearly credited as “1899art”, and a visible and clickable link to https://1899art.com accompanies the image. Prohibited use: Any form of modification, including but not limited to cropping, retouching, recoloring, compositing, filtering, AI-based processing, or derivative works, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. Commercial use, resale, redistribution as standalone files, or inclusion in third-party archives or databases is also not permitted without explicit authorization. Rights status: While the original photographs may be in the public domain due to age, the digital reproductions, curatorial selection, restoration decisions, metadata, and contextual presentation are the intellectual property of 1899art. By using images from this website, you agree to respect these conditions. Automated downloading, scraping, or use of images for machine learning or AI training purposes is expressly prohibited.