Geisha Photo Gallery Photo Gallery by Julian Hebbrecht at pbase.com

Geisha Photo Gallery

There are several misconceptions about the job and position of the Japanese geisha. One of these is that geisha are prostitutes. Nothing could be further from the truth. The word 'geisha' means 'artist' and they are highly respected, professional women trained from girlhood in conversation, traditional Japanese dance, singing and playing the shamisen (a string instrument), in order to lend an atmosphere of chic and gaiety to professional or social gatherings of men. Young, apprentice geisha are called 'maiko-san. (The correct pronunciation for the word 'geisha' is the vowel sound as in 'hey' and 'maiko' is pronounced 'my - ko.'

For those who want to know more about geisha, here are a few book titles:
1. Geisha - A living tradition by Kyoko Aihara - Carlton BooksA beautiful picture book with text about the daily life of geisha.
2. Geisha - Liza Dalby - Vintage Books LondonLiza Dalby is the only Western woman who ever became a professional geisha. She grew up in Japan and after doing her university thesis on geisha, she became one herself. A fascinating story - not a picture book.
3. Geisha of Gion - by Mineko Iwasaki - Pocket BooksMineko was one of the famous geisha here in Gion (Kyoto) and she wrote her own story. Not a picture book.

Click here for the "JAPANESE BEAUTIES GALLERY" the "BEAUTIFUL JAPAN GALLERY" or the "IMAGES OF JAPAN GALLERY"

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Terry		04-Jun-2015 02:23
You have captured the beauty with light and grace!

Dasha		13-Jun-2012 08:16
This is beautiful. If only this part of Japanese. Culture. Was. More. Known...sigh.<3

Guest		03-May-2009 14:18
So exotic gallery! Excellent images! BV

Guest		27-Feb-2009 18:50
Beautiful.

GeneWard		14-Jan-2009 00:51
I like the photos in this gallery. Voted.

Nagisa		13-Jan-2009 20:16
That's so beautiful!

yrene		01-Oct-2008 13:10
wonderful gallery, I love it!

rene hoff		21-Sep-2008 13:35
Fabulos galerie !

Guest		11-Aug-2008 11:39
A wealth of excellent maiko and geisha photography, one of my favourite galleries on pbase! V

Guest		11-Aug-2008 11:25
A treasure collection of Maiko and Geisha photography, excellent! V

Andrea Lee		11-Feb-2008 13:40
Julian, Many years ago I saw some of these lovely ladies when visiting Japan. Your compositions are just fabulous. I am a professional artist and would like to do a series of Maiko and Geisha. While I will not be using any of your photos, as I know that they are copyrighted, I appreicate the beauty. Thank you for sharing these lovely photos and those in your kimono series. There is not much on the web to look at, seems they are illusive creatures. Love your work, and if in the future, I wish to use one of your images, even for reference, I will surely ask your permission and pay the appropriate fee.Many Thanks, Andrea

carolineb		12-Jan-2008 08:07
thanks Julian - I have put my email address as a contact here, hopefully you can access it ok.

Julian Hebbrecht		11-Jan-2008 23:18
Hi Caroline, Thanks for your comment. I usually sell images or the rights to use them privately. Send me a message with your email address and I will get back to you. Julian

carolineb		11-Jan-2008 15:28
Thank you so much for sharing these lovely images - I've been looking for a stock photo for a job, and not found anything suitable, are yours available to buy privately or through an image library? thanks.

marxz		10-Jan-2008 13:19
great gallery, apart from Gion Matsuri I didn't manage to see many geisha in my trips to Kyoto. maybe next time..... also FYI: just recently (this week) another western woman graduated as a geisha, Australian woman Fiona Graham, AKA "Sayuki", though the Australian news being what the Australian news is (almost as parochial as US news) of course have proclaimed her as "The First Western Geisha" they also fail to mention if this is just her debut as a maiko or as an actual geisha.

Guest		10-Jan-2008 12:57
Excellent gallery. It is nice to see an old art form is still there with all the modern changes going on in Japan.

Fumi		09-Jan-2008 12:31
I recognized most of them are Maiko and very few are Geisha. Photos are great and I could see detailed accessories and variery of Kimonos. Beautiful! I am from Tokyo and living in US.

Guest		30-Jun-2007 15:37
nice make up nice shot.

Cindy		15-Jun-2007 16:56
Outstanding, incomparable photos that capture the aesthetic beauty & unique appeal of the geisha. Your skills capture the essence of Japanese culture. There's so much to understand & learn about the history of Japanese textile & the art of making those hair ornaments. I create & craft these hair ornaments for modern women. Simone is looking to get some. Would appreciate if you'd pass my email to her. Thank you Julian for sharing so much!!!

Guest		14-May-2007 06:55
hi, I'm a Melbourne based artist - and I would very much like to paint from some of your fantastic geisha photos - may I do so? Cheers, Daniel s

Guest		19-Jan-2007 14:50
found a few memoirs here...thanks..

Krystyn		07-Jan-2007 01:56
I am doing a project where I have to draw a geisha, and I could not find a good headshot of a geisha anywhere, and I found so many here. Thank you so much!

Rumiko		31-Dec-2006 09:44
I would love to know some good names of books pertaining to Geisha since I find them to be absolutely beautiful. So if you can help with some book suggestions please do e-mail me since I sure would love to read all I can find on Geisha's.

Guest		24-Nov-2006 06:35
Julian, I found your gallery of geisha, the images are so beautiful and colorful. I understand how difficult it is to capture these images but you did such a wonderful job in caputuring the moments and their beauty. I will post my images of them as soon as I am home! Great work, so inspiring.

Kumiko the wannabe geisha		08-Nov-2006 18:52
To Katja, There actual are other books on geisha life there is one I'm reading now called "geisha," that was written by the actual American geisha. Liza Dalby writes about her experiances as her time as a geisha. After seeing these beautiful photos of geisha helped me understand what Liza meant by "dead white and heart shaped lips."

Katja		31-Oct-2006 10:14
Hi Julian, These images are so beautiful. I read the book memoirs of a Geisha and was so impressed by it. I was so happy to find your images. Does someone know other books regarding the life of a geisha? Someone already asked this question but I didn`t find the answer in the forum. If I may ask, how did you manage to take these beautiful images? Many regards and thank you so much Katja

stace		22-Aug-2006 17:55
these pictures are fantastic they have helped me a great deal as i need these to help me with my art coursework thank you

Guest		07-Aug-2006 10:51
an excellent gallery. always looking for something japanese after my last trip there (though didn't get to see any geisha in real life). well this is some constellation.

Yves Rubin		05-Aug-2006 07:14
You have done an amazing amount of outstanding work here, Julian! This has got to be the most extensive collection I have seen. Congrats! Yves

laura		19-May-2006 21:03
beautiful. i love japan and geisha are so pretty

Julian Hebbrecht		29-Apr-2006 09:07
Thanks Jacqueline for your comments. Success with your painting. Julian

Jacqueline		26-Apr-2006 22:47
Kirei na shashin desu~! ("Beautiful photos~!" in Nihongo/Japanese.) All these geisha are so beautiful. I'm in love with the kimono in photo #63! Sono kimono wa honto ni utsukushii desu~! ("That kimono is really beautiful".) Thank you for sharing the gorgeous photographs. I looked up geisha for a reference so I can get an idea for kimono pattern, because I am going to draw/paint a geisha & samurai this weekend. Seeing the patterns gave me many ideas.

Anonymous		11-Apr-2006 00:04
Thank you for the beauiful pictures of the geisha. It really helped me understand the kimono and obi better. Geisha are beauiful works of art and I thank you for sharing that.

Thaily		10-Jan-2006 12:13
I'm an illustrator looking for reference on geisha's, especially the hair, and this helped a lot. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photo's.

Ryan		28-Dec-2005 15:59
As a long time admirer of the Japanese culture and especially the Geisha..I have to say that your work is excellent. You have a great eye for capturing the true beauty of the Geisha.

Alex		06-Nov-2005 17:00
I am a sketch artist at a young age and quite good apparently. I'm also in love with Japan and ALL it's aspects. My mother and I were watching a documentary on "the Secreat World of Geisha's" and she said that they act as prostitutes. I knew they didn't but I found on here and proved her wrong. That you for that. I love the pictures. I'm amazed at how long it takes these girls to dress and all the secreats behind kimonos. I have 2 myself and still don't know all the tricks to wearing it "correctly". Any more information on Kimono wearing would be awsome.

the Zenith		29-Oct-2005 19:22
I was trying to figure out how obi are tied for a fashion drawing project. This gallery helped a bit and the pictures are really nice.

Guest		23-Oct-2005 01:29
Your pictures were the best I've seen so far. I have lots of good ideas now. Thank you.

Betsi		22-Oct-2005 02:49
I am dressing as a Geisha Girl for Halloween and these pictures were awesome to help me out.

simone		18-Oct-2005 16:51
beautifl beautiful beautifl!!! i was wonderong if you knew of anyplace that I could find those gorgeous dangling flower hair ornaments????thanks.

Lil		22-Aug-2005 22:10
I just finished "Memoires of a Geisha" and was having a difficult time putting the wonderful descriptions to a "picture." These helped me sooo sooo sooo much! Thnx!

Guest		05-Jun-2005 22:35
I am doing a make up artistry course and I'm creating a geisha (Maiko) as part of my final exam. I need a photo to work from and would like to ask your permission to use one of yours. They are beautiful examples of the make up I am trying to create. Your photo will only be used to create the make up from and will not be displayed in public. The photo will remain in my assignment and will only be seen by myself and my teacher. Thank you - I look forward to your reply.

Julian Hebbrecht		31-May-2005 22:19
Good to hear that you like my geisha images but you might have asked me first before using them for your art project. Don't think that because pictures are on a website that they are free for all to use as they please. All images, no matter where they are, are copyright. Julian Hebbrecht

art		31-May-2005 14:52
I have been searching for geisha images for my art project and these have been really useful. They are really colourful and pretty pictures.

designho		03-May-2005 05:31
Hi! I am a Graphic designer from Hong Kong...I want to take some similar kind of this photos for my personal reference, How I can take the Geisha in Kyoto of Japan and How I can contact them as your kind of Photos. Would you please to tell me and give me some suggestion. My E-Mail is designhodesignho@yahoo.com.hk Thank you! Wait for your reply.

Yoko		25-Apr-2005 07:52
I love the beauty in all of these photo's.

Ran		13-Apr-2005 10:45
I love those fotos they are amazing!those girls are beautifull!and i love they kimonos!

Krystal		08-Mar-2005 05:48
these photos are just stunning. i love them very much. these women are so beautiful!

Guest		02-Feb-2005 02:07
The pictures from January 7th are stunning. So much beauty. Thank you Toya

Guest		07-Jan-2005 17:54
This is the most fantastic gallery I've been till now. Lucky you, Geisha Photos are hard to take, or so I hear... Thank you for sharing these amazing photos.

Guest		29-Dec-2004 16:33
::nods:: yes, a Geisha is to be most respected. Discovery Times channel on TV did a special about them. It was a beautiful and very interesting documentry. These photos do the Geisha justice.

Juliano Lopez		24-Dec-2004 16:04
Julian, Very beatifull photos. The colors are amazing. You were very fortunate to be able to take these portraits. How did you manage to take them? Congrats, Juliano

samantha		21-Dec-2004 01:14
After reading memoirs of a geisha, I was very curious of the elaborate kimono and hairstyles. This helped me understand a lot.

Racheal Sarcia		03-Nov-2004 12:52
Geisha are absolutley stunning - they put western women to shame. But can I just comment on the misconception that Geisha are prositutes - around the 1940's 'sell' their virginity to businessmen or aristocrats but it was at a very high price and Geisha could refuse if they beleived the offer too small. However I do wonder how it works nowadays. Well done on the photographs.

Guest		07-Oct-2004 19:29
Good afternoon. This gallery is breathtaking, amazing and entrancing. These women hardly seem of this earth and you have captured them wonderfully. Thank you for putting this gallery on the web. It is so awesome, Dude!

Guest		06-Oct-2004 15:39
A stunning gallery, so full of beauty!

Guest		20-Sep-2004 00:25
Fantastic pictures. Thank you for sharing.

Guest		19-Sep-2004 10:16
very nice gallery. i love the crop on all.

Guest		17-Sep-2004 02:56
Really nice shots here. Especially like the Perfect Face. Vote

gina_dl		08-Jul-2004 18:07
as everyone before me : wonderful tout court! Now that I have an account myself I must remember to vote! As I did now lol Julian, I read the book "Geisha" some years ago. It was really a great insight in the job and life of this creatures of beauty with kimono that are priceless and exquisite.

Phyllis Stewart		08-Jul-2004 08:56
I have seen this gallery before, but I just had to look through it again... just gorgeous! Wonderful images!

Hodero		20-Jun-2004 12:55
.like a VENETIAN Carnaval...

Hodero		20-Jun-2004 12:52
Great,..never seen anything like this before.. good portraits,colors...etc..chapeau..!!

Guest		01-Jun-2004 01:32
Lovely portraits, very nice gallery. Thanks for sharing. http://www.pbase.com/oreniko

Ryan		08-Apr-2004 17:19
Very lovely photos. I was glad to find this gallery, it was very inspiring for my art. Thank you for posting it, and the explanation. So few people understand about geisha.

Kay Challis		15-Mar-2004 17:45
Thank you for sharing such exquisitely beautiful photos - they really are breathtaking! I have only recently become interested in the subject of Japanese geisha, and your pictures are the best that I have seen so far - such clarity and vibrant colour! You really have done justice to these talented and fascinating women.

Guest		16-Nov-2003 18:48
Really lovely photos of Geishas. I think your introduction was most appropriate and gives the respect due to the beautiful and highly professional women. And by professional, I mean, it takes years of training and education in the Art of Courtesy and Respect,of playing musical instruments, of dancing and grace, of listening in humility, of entertaining and pleasing a guest, of diplomacy and charm, of being able to cope with almost any topic of conversation, and to make a man feel like a king. A geisha is a perfect hostess, much to be admired. I do not think that there is any other culture in the world to have been able to produce a Finishing School, to produce such a perfect female hostess to sooth the nerves of the exhausted business executive. Just imagine a Parisian Finishing School training a bevy of such hostesses(with such attributes but in your language and social values) to laugh or sing with you, or giggle at your jokes. or listen to your moans, or to try to make you smile and relax when you are up tight), at the end of your week of hectic work, is available. I feel sure demand would exceed supply. A great business idea? Please cut me in!

Paul Keates		31-Oct-2003 11:44
A fantastic set of images, well done. Congratulations. Paul

Phyllis Stewart		31-Oct-2003 05:42
This gallery certainly gets my vote! I would love to use one of these as a basis for a photo art challenge on my site at http://www.innographx.com/forum. We give full photo credit, a pbase link, and a copyright notice...see the Photo Art forum to see what I mean.

Phyllis Stewart		31-Oct-2003 05:36
This gallery certainly gets my vote! I would love to use one of these as a basis for a photo art challenge on my site at http://www.innographx.com/forum. We give full photo credit, a pbase link, and a copyright notice...see the Photo Art forum to see what I mean.

kyzar		29-Sep-2003 21:31
The color on these photos is so vibrant! As a westerner, it's hard for me to tell, but you seem to have captured the "mystique" of the geisha. To Adi: it does seem like the geishas knew they were to be photographed since they are posing very nicely.

Guest		18-Jul-2003 07:51
I like this gallery a lot; Last time went to Kyoto I didn't have the chance to meet any of the Maikos or Geishas. Did you ask them first before you took the pictures? Thanks for sharing. -Adi-

Guest		18-Mar-2003 20:18
great work :-)) best regards magus

Lauren		05-Mar-2003 12:05
I think all of your photos are fabulous. You have a great eye.

Guest		21-Feb-2003 06:42
Very nice pictures of the Geisha. Regards, Steve Rose

yungtsailai		21-Feb-2003 03:50
This is really cool...

Guest		11-Feb-2003 03:20
I really enjoyed the pics in this gallery. Very tough condition to get a correct exposure and I think you have very well on that aspect. Beautiful colors and sharpness. It looks like the G3 is in good hands... Chuso

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