[Young Chinese Gentleman] 1870s

This photographic print of a young Chinese gentleman was created by Raimund von Stillfried, though we don't know exactly when. The image is a hand-colored albumen silver print, a process that was popular in the mid-19th century. The albumen in this print is derived from egg whites, which create a glossy surface when applied to paper and exposed to light. The hand-coloring transforms the photograph into a vivid cultural document, carefully applied to bring out the details of the subject’s clothing and features. Consider the social context: Stillfried, a Western photographer, was catering to a market fascinated by the exotic ‘other.’ The resulting photograph is not just a portrait but an artifact of cultural exchange, with its own power dynamics, reflecting how photography played a role in shaping perceptions of different cultures. The labor-intensive process of albumen printing and hand-coloring, combined with the subject's attire, offers insights into the era’s aesthetic values. It blurs the boundaries between photography, craft, and cultural representation.