BetaFind out more
Back to search

Canton, Kwangtung (Guangdong) province, China: a young woman. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.

Thomson, J. 1837-1921.
Date
1869
  • Pictures

Where to find it

Selected images from this work

View 2 images

About this work

Description

A young woman, wearing a fine silk robe, holding an open decorated fan in her right hand, standing before a folding screen with painted decoration of birds and foliage. Both the fan and screen are in the chinoiserie style: since the 18th century, a large number of these types of Chinese-style objects had been produced in the Pearl River Delta area exclusively for the European market. This woman has a slight 'non-Chinese' look about her. As noted by Thomson, some of the Chinese he encountered in this part of China had pale skins, finely formed features and large lustrous eyes, which suggested they might not be of 'purely Chinese blood'

Publication/Creation

1869

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion

Contributors

Lettering

Canton lady

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
This item is fragile and needs to be viewed in Conservation by appointment. If you would like to view this item please contact library@wellcome well in advance of your visit.

Publications note

Paisarn Piemmettawat, Siam through the lens of John Thomson 1865-66, including Angkor and coastal China, Bangkok: River Books, 2015, p. 136
China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 125 (reproduced)

Reference

Wellcome Library no. 19606i

Lettering note

Bears Thomson's negative number: "682"

Type/Technique

Languages

  • English

Subjects

Permanent link

We’re improving the information on this page. Find out more.