Amoy (Xiamen), Fujian province, China: a husband and wife. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870-1871.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1870-1871
Reference:
19748i
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About this work

Description

A young man and woman, seated. She is holding a fan and looking at him. Although this couple are sitting closely together, the husband looks away into the middle distance. In traditional China it was improper for a couple to face one other. It seems that the scene was set up by Thomson, but the couple look rather hesitant

Publication/Creation

1870-1871

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion

Lettering

Natives of China Bears Thomson's negative number: "746"

References note

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 108 (reproduced)

Notes

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

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19748i

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    By appointmentManual request

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