Gezicht op de haven van Tianjin c. 1730

This is an anonymous engraving depicting a view of the port of Tianjin, China. Created during a period of increased European trade with China, the print offers a glimpse into a world both distant and deeply interconnected with European economic interests. The image presents a bustling harbor, filled with ships and people, framed by distinctive Chinese architecture. Yet, it is rendered through the lens of European artistic conventions. This tension highlights the complex interplay between observation, representation, and cultural exchange that defined the era. As you look, consider the gazes involved. What did it mean for a European audience to consume an image of China, and how might this image have shaped perceptions and understandings of a vastly different culture? The print invites us to reflect on the dynamics of global exchange and the ways in which images mediate our understanding of one another. It encourages us to consider the human stories embedded within the broader narratives of trade, power, and cultural encounter.