Joey Scolieri - Weekly Artist Post 4

Watanabe Katsumi

1. The photographer took these portraits in black and white and always within six to eight feet of the subject. In each photograph the subject is standing in the center looking directly back into the camera lens.

2. I believe the intent of the portrait style photographs were to capture the subjects intended personality traits. In the first photograph the bartender is happy while showing off his drink pouring abilities. The second photograph is of a Yakuza gang member and Watanabe takes the photograph in an upward angle as if to depict the seated member in a position of power. The third photograph is of a man who is dressed for the era, he has the Rat Pack style, top hat slightly tilted to the side, cigarette in his mouth, with a suit on but no tie. Classic.

3. Watanabe took these photographs in the underbelly of Shinjuku, Tokyo in the 1960's early 70's. He took the photographs with the intent of selling them back to the subject. I think it is great to see that the 1960's style wasn't just a trend in America, but rather world wide. The Yakuza gang member proudly showing off his tattoos and the Rat Pack style of the third subject really captures the mood of what I feel Shinjuku embodied during that era.