Foochow, Fukien province, China: a woman carrying buckets of night-soil. Photograph by John Thomson, 1871.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1871
Reference:
19724i
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About this work

Description

A woman holding panniers suspended from a yoke on her shoulders, standing outside by the wall of a house. This photograph was taken near to a tea plantation on terraced hills just outside of Fuzhou. Terraced fields were common in the Fujian countryside. To fertilize them the native women had to transport human manure from the city of Fuzhou. They did not bind their feet, and they carried the same burdens as the men did. Hard work rendered these women strong and healthy. According to Thomson, 'their olive cheeks are warmed with a glow of colour'

Publication/Creation

1871

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion : stereograph

Lettering

Amoy field woman, Foochow field woman Bears Thomson's negative number: "733"

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

References note

China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 97 (reproduced)

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19724i

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