KW284 (S44), Katsumi Watanabe, 1969, printed 1985
Katsumi WatanabeJapanese, 1941–2006

KW284 (S44)

1969, printed 1985 · Photograph

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “KW284 (S44)” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum

About the work

Katsumi Watanabe worked from the 1960s into the 1980s as an itinerant portrait photographer of patrons and workers at gay bars, nightclubs, and brothels, which Watanabe also frequented for pleasure. He confined his activities to the Shinjuku neighborhood of Tokyo. This theater, shopping, and red-light district was a crucible of individual and collective revolt in the years around 1970. For the images he sold to his subjects, Watanabe typically printed in color, but for publication and exhibition—as in this case—he made the prints in black and white, considering that to be more dignified.

Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0

Details

Accession number
2014.43

In the catalog

Sources

All works

On view at Art Institute of Chicago

Museum page