Mandarin Wife 1860 - 1863

This albumen silver print, "Mandarin Wife", was made by Milton Miller in the late 19th century. It offers a window into the visual codes of social status and cultural exchange during that era. The photograph presents a woman adorned in the elaborate garments of a high-ranking official's wife in China, likely taken in a studio setting catering to Western tastes or for export. The image creates meaning through its careful arrangement of exoticized details. The sitter’s ornate headdress, embroidered robes, and bound feet speak to a complex social hierarchy and gender norms within Qing Dynasty China. Miller's work reflects the Western fascination with the ‘Orient’ and the commercialization of cultural imagery during a period of increasing global interaction. Understanding this photograph requires us to consider the photographer's role, the sitter’s agency, and the circulation of such images within a broader network of colonial encounters. The study of photographs like these enrich our understanding of institutional and cultural exchange, and the politics of representation in an interconnected world.