Personen staan in de yamen van een lokale bestuursambtenaar, Guangzhou 1858 - 1862

This stereoscopic albumen print by Pierre Joseph Rossier captures the yamen of a local government official in Guangzhou, China. The muted sepia tones evoke a sense of distance and formality, emphasizing the hierarchical structure of the scene. Rossier frames the subjects within the architectural grid of the building and the bridge. The composition is rigidly structured, with the building's horizontal lines and vertical pillars acting as a stage for the figures. These lines create a visual order that reflects the social hierarchy of the yamen. The texture of the print, with its fine details and soft focus, adds to the sense of a world observed rather than experienced. Rossier uses the structure of the photograph itself to create a sense of detachment, a reflection on how we perceive and categorize the world around us. This photograph challenges fixed meanings and invites us to reconsider the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation.