Shima Ryū

Shima Ryū (島 隆, 1823–1900[1] [2]) was a Japanese artist and pioneering photographer.

Originally from Kiryū, in what is now Gunma Prefecture, Ryū studied at an art school in Edo (now Tokyo) where she met Shima Kakoku (1827–1870), a fellow student.

The two married in 1855 and soon began moving about the Kantō region, possibly exhibiting their works along the way.

[1][3][4] The negative is on deposit at the Tojo Historical Museum, a wet-plate print of this portrait remains in the Shima family archives and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston has an albumen print.

[4] The Shimas operated a photographic studio in Edo[5] in about 1865 to 1867, until Kakoku accepted a teaching position at Kaiseijo.

A wet plate photograph of Shima Kakoku by his wife, Shima Ryū in 1864. [ citation needed ] This is believed to be the first photograph taken by a Japanese woman. [ citation needed ]