The man began photographing his wife through the window of their fourth floor flat every day as she left for work and when looking at the pictures, everyone noticed the same thing
A man got into the habit of photographing his wife each day before work – and when the images were publicised, everyone noticed the same thing. The photographs are the work of the esteemed photographer, Masahisa Fukase, who did numerous projects that offered an original interpretation and insight into domestic life.
Born in the small town of Bifuka, Hokkaido, in Japan in 1934, the photographer moved to Tokyo in the 1950s to pursue his education but never lost his love for his little hometown. One of his projects, From Window, has enjoyed a resurgence of interest and popularity, even among those unfamiliar with Fukase’s work.
In many of the images, taken in the 70s, the photographer captured his then-wife, Yoko Wanibe, from a fourth floor window while she was outside below, heading to work.
This angle is designed to create a sense of separation between the photographer and subject, while still capturing the intimacy of domesticity.
The couple’s marriage did not last, however. They were separated by 1976 after marrying in 1964.
Gallerist Michael Hoppen, a fan of the photographer, told Dazed: “Yoko appeared in many guises. This included intimate scenes of their domestic life, subversively staged wedding pictures, a dramatic shoot in an abattoir and even a formal death portrait.”
In the images, there’s a blending of playful contentment – Yoko can be seen sticking out her tongue or kicking out her leg – alongside a palpable distance and disinterest – she often looks bored, uninterested and detached.
Recently, a string of images were shared on social media, with many people drawn in by Yoko’s “impeccable” sense of style.
Her outfits are a visual diary of the 70s, with flared jeans, knee boots, mini skirts, suits and more, with lots of Instagram users adamant they’d wear the looks today.
A carousel of the picture series was shared by History Photographed. In the caption accompanying the line-up, the account added: “From the 1974 series ‘From Window’, photographer Masahisa Fukase captured his wife, Yoko, every morning as she left their apartment for work.
”Taken just two years before their divorce, the series is a poignant and obsessive visual diary of their deteriorating relationship, with the window frame acting as a metaphor for the growing emotional distance between them.”
In the comments section, people shared their thoughts. One person said: “Can we talk about her fashion!!!!????”
Another said: “She was a fashion icon”, while a third summarised: “Fashionable and has personality”.
A fourth simply said: “Very stylish!” Another shared: “I would wear every outfit right now”.
And another commented: “Super stylish..omg”. One person said: “1974??? Her fashion sense is impeccable”.
Another said: “Style icon”. Someone else claimed: “The fashion we want back”.
Another Instagram user shared: “I want every single one of those fits!” And another added: “Her style is immaculate”.
In 1992, Fukase fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a traumatic brain injury which left him in a coma until his death 20 years later in 2012.