China: a Manchu lady with her daughter in-law and grandchildren, Beijing. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.

A mother sitting with four children, three small, one adolescent, in the garden of a house. The adolescent daughter is wearing a tassled ring and high patten shoes. The same as Thomson's negative number 707a, probably one half of a stereo pair

In China, photographs are at the core of the social representation of identity. With lineage providing an overarching sense of identity, family portraits are particularly popular, as family size is a matter of social prestige. The lady in the photograph is looking content with her daughter-in-law and three grandchildren by her side

1869

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion

Manchu family, Peking Bears Thomson's negative number: "707"

This is one of a collection of original glass negatives made by John Thomson. The negatives, made between 1868 and 1872, were purchased from Thomson by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1921

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 37 (reproduced)

Wellcome Collection 19662i