Canton (Guangzhou), Kwangtung province, China: two young Cantonese women. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.
- Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
- Date:
- 1869
- Reference:
- 19604i
- Pictures
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Description
Two young women, wearing identical quilted silk costumes, standing by a wooden fence outside the verandah of a house. The one on the left is holding a flower. Their hair is wreathed with flowers, and their faces had been painted 'until they resembled their native porcelain ware'. For Thomson these were signs that suggested their lives were 'hedged round with so many restrictions'
Publication/Creation
1869
Physical description
1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion : stereograph
Contributors
Lettering
Canton ladies
Bears Thomson's negative number: "681"
References note
China through the lens of John Thomson, 1868-1872, Beijing: Beijing World Art Museum, 2009, p. 124 (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 19604i
Type/Technique
Languages
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed storesBy appointment Manual request Note