River Min, Fukien province, China. Photograph by John Thomson, 1870/1871.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1870
Reference:
18764i
  • Pictures

About this work

Description

The river Min with a silhouetted man standing at the edge watching a whirlpool. During his visit to Fujian, Thomson was captivated by the beauty of River Min. Responding to the magnificent landscape, he developed a sensitive aesthetic style, fine yet sharp. This photograph was taken against the bold mountains in the background. These are the Wuhu or 'Five Tiger' Mountains, and it is here that the river widens into a basin with narrow openings at either end. The photograph seems to have been taken at sunset, which adds a romantic tone to the view

Publication/Creation

1870

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion

Contributors

Lettering

Whirlpool, Min River, China Bears Thomson's negative number: "71"

References note

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 118 (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 18764i

Type/Technique

Languages

Subjects

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    		By appointmentManual request

    Note

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