Currently not on view

Nagasaki,
1962, printed 1988

Shōmei Tomatsu 東松照明, Japanese, 1930–2012

x1988-4

Tōmatsu was Japan’s preeminent postwar photographer. In Nagasaki 11:02, his best-known series, Tōmatsu documented the lives of those who survived the atomic blast of August 9, 1945. These haunting portraits remind us that a single act of destruction creates endless physical, and psychological, pain. Here, Tōmatsu confronts us with the scarred face of a survivor. With eyes averting the camera’s gaze, Senji Yamaguchi emerges from the shadows, allowing us to see the keloid scars—particular to the aftermath of a nuclear attack—that mar his upper body. Knots and skeins of pulled skin run up and down his neck and jawbone, their irregularities glistening in the bright light. Instead of hiding the trauma of Nagasaki in the annals of history, Tōmatsu reminds us that, in order to construct a nonviolent future, we must remember and face suffering.

Information

Title

Nagasaki

Dates

1962, printed 1988

Maker

Shōmei Tomatsu 東松照明

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

image: 41.8 x 51 cm (16 7/16 x 20 1/16 in.) sheet: 28.5 x 40.8 cm (11 1/4 x 16 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Museum purchase, gift of Robert Gambee, Class of 1964

Object Number

x1988-4

Place Made

Asia, Japan, Nagasaki

Culture

Japanese

Type

photographs, black-and-white photographs

Subject

men, portraits, nuclear bombs, Depicts, Depicts, faces

"Acquisitions of the Art Museum 1988," <em>Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University </em>48, no. 1 (1989): p. 35-59., p. 52

Share your feedback with us

The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

Citation

Shōmei Tomatsu 東松照明 (Japanese, 1930–2012), Nagasaki, 1962, printed 1988. Gelatin silver print; 41.8 x 51 cm (image), 28.5 x 40.8 cm (sheet). Museum purchase, gift of Robert Gambee, Class of 1964 (x1988-4) https://artmuseum-beta.princeton.edu/art/collections/objects/16939?field_tms_obj_subjects_target_id=49

Image Not Available for Download

This image is under copyright or otherwise restricted. If you are interested in using the image, you may need to request this from the image rights holder. Please refer to our Image Use and Access guidelines for further information.

Currently not on view

Nagasaki,
1962, printed 1988

Information

Share your feedback with us

The Cameo (Julia McCune) ,
1904

Mary and David Dalzell of South Egremont, Massachusetts ,
ca. 1845

Mark Napier ,
1928

Swimmer ,
1986–88

Portrait of a girl with a doll ,
ca. 1915–1920

Lamplight study ,
1916

Citation

Image Not Available for Download

Explore More

Hear the Conservator

Artist-in-Residence Talk: Liu Xiaodong

Currently not on view

Nagasaki, 1962, printed 1988

Information

Bibliographic Entries

Share your feedback with us

Related Objects

The Cameo (Julia McCune) , 1904

Mary and David Dalzell of South Egremont, Massachusetts , ca. 1845

Mark Napier , 1928

Swimmer , 1986–88

Portrait of a girl with a doll , ca. 1915–1920

Lamplight study , 1916

Explore More

Hear the Conservator

Artist-in-Residence Talk: Liu Xiaodong

Nagasaki,
1962, printed 1988

The Cameo (Julia McCune) ,
1904

Mary and David Dalzell of South Egremont, Massachusetts ,
ca. 1845

Mark Napier ,
1928

Swimmer ,
1986–88

Portrait of a girl with a doll ,
ca. 1915–1920

Lamplight study ,
1916