Gezicht op gebouwen aan een water, Graven van de slachtoffers van Tianjin en Onthoofding van een onbekende man before 1897

This is a reproduced page from an unbound book, created by an anonymous artist. The images show the Guang-Hae-Leou, the graves of the victims of the Tianjin Massacre, and the beheading of a man in Tianjin. These images come from a period of intense western interest in China, which in turn shaped China’s relationship with the West. The image showing a Catholic mission shows the cultural influence of western institutions in China at the time. The Tianjin Massacre was an anti-Christian riot in 1870, and the image speaks to the tensions and conflicts that arose when European powers began extending their influence into China. The beheading is a reminder of the stark differences in legal systems. To understand this image better, we need to dig into historical archives, missionary records, diplomatic correspondence, and travelogues. It's through this kind of research we can uncover the complex social, political, and institutional dynamics at play in 19th-century China.