Through the Lens: Ancient China Explored

9 Minute Read

• Rare early photographs revealing what life in China looked liked more than 140 years ago emerged several years ago. The stunning collection comprises 200 black and white images of Far East landscapes and wide-ranging personal portraits of everybody from rural peasants to senior government officials.

• Produced at a time when camera technology was still in its infancy, they were taken by celebrated Scottish photographer John Thomson between 1873 and 1874 during his 4,000-mile expedition across the country.

Scottish photographer John Thomson captured hundreds of typical Chinese communities during his trip in 1873. Pictured: A food vendor,scribe, barber and wood turner in Kiu-Kiang

Thomson took the pictured  at a time when camera technology was still in its infancy. Pictured: The Nanking arsenal      

The stunning collection comprises 200 black and white images of Far East landscapes. Pictured: Women sorting tea in Canton

 The Story Behind the Pictures 

The amazing images are the first volume of photos from that time in China to ever be included in a travel book. One of only a handful of the album copies still in existence went under the hammer at Sotheby's auction house with an estimate of £35,000 in 2016.

Ancient China, through the lens of a Scotsman: First ever travel guide photographs of the remote Far East. The collection is made up of 200 black and white images of the Far East. The amazing images are believed to have been taken 145 years ago Scenes captured by Scottish photographer and traveler John Thomson.

Thomson, the son of a tobacco spinner, became fascinated by Asian culture after moving to Singapore to set up a business with his watchmaker brother William. As a result he decided to throw caution to the wind by travelling to previously unexplored, remote areas of China where people had never seen westerners or camera equipment before.

The view into the National University in Peking (pictured left) and Wu shan gorge on the mighty Yangtse river (pictured right)

Locals saw him hauling around a makeshift photographic studio along with his huge wooden camera, tripods, jugs of chemicals and other bulky equipment all over the country.

The result was a hugely diverse collection of pictures that included images of labourers hard at work in the field, ornately dressed actors, Manchu soldiers posing with their weapons and portraits of some of the most powerful government officials in the country.

Actors from the Chinese theatre (pictured left) and a Manchu soldier showing off his weapon (pictured right)

Chinese labourer's making clay bricks (pictured left) and two Manchu women at a Manchu wedding (pictured right)

Thomson was renowned for his meticulous approach and his use of the 'wet-collodion' process meant he had to persuade his subjects to stay still for long periods while he captured their likeness.

Such was his reputation on returning to the UK, he toured the country giving talks about his experiences and was eventually appointed an official royal photographer by Queen Victoria. Richard Fattorini, Sotheby's books and manuscripts specialist, said: 'John Thomson was a true pioneering visual anthropologist.

Thomson was renowned for his  use of the 'wet-collodion' process, which meant he had to persuade his subjects to stay still for long periods. Pictured: The Ming Tombs north of Peking.

Canton boat girls (pictured left) and a mother who belonged to the Pepohoan people of Formosa now known as Taiwan (pictured right)

 John Thompson: Background History 

'He was absolutely fascinated by China - its people, their way of life, the culture and architecture - and he wanted to capture a whole cross-section of the country's society in these photographs.

'For him to have travelled that sort of distance at that time is an amazing achievement in itself, let alone when you consider he would have had all sorts of camera equipment and chemicals with him. He would have had none of the travel luxuries we have today. 'He was quite a remarkable man - an intrepid explorer who was dedicated to his art.'

Starvation punishment and the 'cangue' or wooden collar was a popular punishment for criminals (pictured left) and a portrait of a labouring class woman (pictured right)

In total Thomson spent a decade exploring the Far East, taking photos of Chinese musicians (pictured left) and the Pepohoan people of Formosa (pictured right)

Thomson, who first became interested in photography as an apprentice at an optical equipment manufacturer in Edinburgh, was inspired to travel by French naturalist and explorer Henri Mouhot who wrote of rediscovering ancient cities in the Cambodian jungle.

In total he spent a decade exploring the Far East and also produced photo books covering Malaya and Sumatra. This album is part of a huge collection of Chinese manuscripts and photographs amassed by Belgian lawyer Bernard Hanotiau over the last 25 years which are being sold by Sotheby's.

Children belonging to the Pepohoan people of Formosa - modern Taiwan (pictured left) and a criminal being punished (pictured right)

Mr Fattorini added: 'Bernard Hanotiau has collected all the books, he has had a public exhibition and he had done everything he wanted to do with the collection. 'He feels now it is time for other people to enjoy it as much as he has.' 

Source: Daily Mail. Pictures: Sothebys/ BNPS

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3852504/Ancient-China-lens-Scottish-photographer-John-Thomson-travel-guide-photographs-remote-Far-East-emerge-140-years.html

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