Jui-Lin, Governor-General of the Two Kwang Provinces c. 1868

This silver albumen print of Jui-Lin, Governor-General of the Two Kwang Provinces, was created by John Thomson. It is now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The portrait compels us to consider the interplay between presence and representation. The Governor-General is captured seated, framed by meticulously arranged foliage and a decorative table with a tea set. Note the tonal range of the silver albumen print which creates depth and texture that enriches the visual experience. The composition emphasizes the Governor's regal pose, symbolizing authority. Thomson was a pioneer in using photography to document different cultures. Through the lens, he explored themes of identity and otherness. This image operates as a sign, laden with cultural codes and assumptions about power. Consider how the photographic medium itself—with its indexical relationship to reality—lends a certain weight to the portrayal. The photograph exists not just as an aesthetic object but as a document that invites a critical examination of its historical and cultural context.