Mutsuhito, The Meiji Emperor, 1872, Albumen silver print from glass negative, 25. 1 x 19. 5 cm (9 7/8 x 7 11/16 in. ), Photographs, Uchida Kuichi (Japanese, 1844?1875), The Imperial Household Agency chose Uchida, one of the most renowned photographers in Japan at the time, as the only artist permitted to photograph the Meiji Emperor in 1872 and again in 1873. Up to this point, no emperor had ever been photographed