China: a young woman standing in a rock garden, Beijing. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.

A woman standing in a rocky garden. The same as Thomson's negative number 712, probably one half of a stereo pair. During his visit to Beijing, Thomson was befriended by a rich local gentleman, a certain Mr Yang. Like many of his wealthy contemporaries, Yang aspired to things foreign. He became particularly interested in collecting photographic equipment. His curiosity and genuine kindness allowed Thomson to enter his home and obtain a glimpse of the domestic life, especially of women, of a Chinese family. Here a young woman stands in a rocky garden. Like most women of well-off families, she lived a life of seclusion, knowing little or nothing of the world beyond the walls of what can be seen to be a beautiful courtyard house