John Thomson’s Remarkable Photographs of China from the 1870s – Design You Trust — Design Daily Since 2007

John Thomson’s Remarkable Photographs of China from the 1870s

Portrait of Young Manchu Woman in her Wedding Dress.

John Thomson (1837-1921) created work that was ground-breaking and pioneering. Far more pioneering than an innovative coiffure or a teen’s product placement on YouTube.

Thomson was an Edinburgh-born photographer who travelled to China in the late 1860s. From 1870-71, Thomson travelled extensively in China photographing the people he met, documenting their customs, lives, costumes, and traditions. Thomson feared much of China’s culture would be swamped by the expansion of Empire and the opening of trading routes.

More: Wikipedia h/t: flashbak

A Manchu lady wearing a coiffure.

Thomson travelled with a camera the size of a large packing crate. He used the collodion process or wet plate process which was a time-consuming and difficult. Thomson hoped his work would bring an appreciation of the rich diversity of ethnicity and culture to Victorian Britain. That he succeeded and his works are still held in high esteem today is testament to Thomson’s pioneering work as a photographer.

Mandarin and Son.

A Mandarin’s house.

Old Chinese woman with elaborate hair style.

A Pekingese chiropodist.

A painter at work.

Manchu lady having her hair styled.

Manchu Lady and her Maid.

Three men, two older with beards, one younger with a moustache.

A Cantonese boat girl.

A man, with laden panniers, selling fruit outside a house.

A tradesman selling vases on the street.

An old Mongol woman and her horse.

A Nightwatchman, Peking.

Manchu women buying flowers for their headdress.

Prince Kung, now about forty years of age, is the sixth son of the Emperor Tao Kwang, who reigned from A.D. 1820 to 1850. He is a younger brother of the late Emperor Hien-foong, and, consequently an uncle to the reigning Emperor Tung-che.

Camel sculptures on the road to the Ming tombs.

Island Pagoda.

Amoy, Fukien province, China: two Manchu soldiers with John Thomson.

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to Design You Trust Facebook page.

More Inspiring Stories

China's Famous 'Face-Kini' Gets Porcelain-Inspired Facelift

Breathtaking Award-Winning Macro Photos from the 2025 British Photography Awards

Japanese Harry Potter Flies Around The World's Most Iconic Landmarks On A Broomstick

Exploring Japan with Daft Punk: A Look at Rare Photographs of the Iconic Duo from 2000's

Spectacular Winning Images Of The 2021 One Eyeland Photography Awards

Dutch Photographer Documents Eccentric Costumed Motorbike Taxi Drivers In Nairobi

This Photographer Captured The Life Of A Ping Pong Table For 5 Years

Striking Black And White Photographs Of New York City’s ‘Mean Streets’ In The 1970s And 1980s

Photographer Creates Surreal & Minimalist Self-Portraits Surrounded By Flowers And Fruits

Ukrainian Photographer Creates Powerful Photo To Overcome Anxiety, And Here’s How She Did It

Keira Knightley for Interview, April 2012

"Dancing With Sharks": Incredible Underwater Photography By Juan Oliphant

Stunning Vintage Advertising of 1948-49 Futuramic Oldsmobile

Recycling Grandma's Replacement Parts

Amateur Photographer Captures Minimalist Photos Of Beautiful Berlin Architecture

Cool Pics Defined Fashion Trend Of Young Women In The 1990s

Beautiful Retro & Romance Fashion Photography By Jerry Schatzberg

"Earth’s Wonders Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before": These Angled Satellite Images Are Like Aerial Photos From 280 Miles Up

High Flying Fashions At Boston Hotel

Photos Of 20 Wonderful Reliant Regal Cars

Stunning Photos Show Mercedes-Benz 190 SL's Assembly Line In February 1958

This Artist Adopts an Incredibly Unique Approach to Chinese Painting and 3D Projection Art

2016 Audubon Photography Awards

Rosie Hardy Escapes Into Fantasy Worlds Through Her Self Portraits

A Photographer Shows the Harsh Reality of Living in 43-Square-Foot Rooms in South Korea

Beautiful Winning Images from the National Wildlife Photo Contest

Our Small World Through The Lens Of Russian Photographer Sergey Maximishin

Animal Lovers Converge on Pet Fair

Elmer Duyvis

Photographer Captures The Unique And Amazing People Of The New York Subway