Peking, Pechili province, China: a mother with two children. Photograph by John Thomson, 1869.

  • Thomson, J. (John), 1837-1921.
Date:
1869
Reference:
19698i
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About this work

Description

A woman holding an infant, who wears a cowled hood, next to them a small boy, eating. All are standing in the street in front of a light-toned screen. John Thomson described the streets of Beijing as 'highly picturesque and interesting', and the people formed an essential part of its charm. In many photographs he showed much sympathy for the poor. Here a woman is holding a child in her arms; next to her, looking away from the camera, stands a boy eating a piece of pastry. Thomson met them in front of a butcher’s shop while touring the Qianmen area of the city. They are dressed in plain but warm and clean clothing, outfits that indicate they are not from a wealthy family

Publication/Creation

1869

Physical description

1 photograph : glass photonegative, wet collodion : stereograph

Lettering

Mother and children, Peking Bears Thomson's negative number: "723"

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. 55 (reproduced)

Reference

Wellcome Collection 19698i

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