Canton Woman from the collection of Art Alba Gallery

Canton Woman, 1869

Archival Print

20 x 16 cm

US$250

Astonishing modern looking 1869 portrait of an elderly woman in Canton. This was one of a group of four portraits Thompson took of an older group which he described thus "Two generations have now grown up around them, and their sons and grandsons have succeeded them as the bread-winners of the family. The old woman still busies herself in the lighter domestic duties; she is skilful with the needle, and invaluable as a nurse in time of sickness. Her hair has grown thin and white, but she still dresses it with neatness and care."
In this striking study he has her in profile, resting her chin on her crooked right index finger. The skin on her hands is parchment thin and shows her age. Her greying hair is gathered in a twist at the back and she is wearing large curled snake earrings and a garment of coarse woven material. It seems Thomson wanted to show all the hardship and toil the old woman had endured, but demonstrate her resilience too, capturing her inner dignity, serenity and even elegance.

From scan of the original 1869 glass negative, printed later. Thompson inscribed his name on the negative appearing at the mid point of the subjects back. Image size approx 7.5" x 6" on Japanese paper, archivally mounted on acid-free card, matted and in a black wooden frame.

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About the artist

John Thomson

Scottish

1837-1921

John Thomson (1837-1921), a pioneering Scottish geographer and traveler, was the first known photographer to document the people and landscape of China for publication and dissemination to the Western world. Between 1868 and 1872, he traveled over 6,500 kilometers with his cumbersome camera and equipment, darkroom and chemicals capturing all aspects of Chinese and South-east Asian life.

Thomson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of a tobacco spinner and seller. He was apprenticed to an optician and scientific instrument maker in 1851, and attended evening classes to study science. In April 1862, he set out for Singapore where his older brother William was a watchmaker and photographer. While jointly operating with his brother a business making chronometers and optical and nautical instruments, Thomson began using Singapore as a base from which to travel extensively throughout Asia, taking photographs and recording his observations. In 1868 he moved to Hong Kong and began his project to photograph the people of China. After a decade in Asia, he returned to Britain, where he published the results of his travels and operated a portrait studio in London.

Additional Artworks

Clouds, 2004

Boy Blue, 2004

Dark Landscape, 2000

Reflection, 1993

South Rim, Grand Canyon, 1993

Zulu Wedding Flag 1954, 1954

Autumn 1953, 1953

Happy Valley, 1949

About the artist

John Thomson