Eikoh Hosoe (1933–2024) was a Japanese photographer born in Yamagata. He is considered a key figure in postwar Japanese photography, known for his expressive, theatrical, and deeply symbolic style.
After studying photography at the Tokyo College of Photography, Hosoe developed a visual language influenced by the artistic avant-garde and traditional Japanese culture. His work is characterized by highly constructed images, often charged with emotional intensity and references to the body, identity, and eroticism.
He collaborated with important figures in the Japanese artistic scene, including writer Yukio Mishima and dancer Tatsumi Hijikata, with whom he created some of his most celebrated series. His works combine photography, performance, and theater, resulting in powerful and visionary images.
