Vieux Chinoise de Canton 1870s

This photographic print, Vieux Chinoise de Canton, was made by Raimund von Stillfried sometime in the late 19th century. The artist used a process called albumen silver printing, where paper is coated with egg white and a silver nitrate solution. That albumen gives the print its characteristic gloss and depth, as well as the sepia tone that you see. The high level of detail that was possible with this process is obvious. Note the textures of the man's skin, his simple clothing, the tools tucked into his collar. The albumen print was very popular at the time. Its precision and reproducibility was perfect for portraiture. The image is mounted onto card stock, to be sold as a souvenir for Western tourists. This speaks to the complex politics of colonialism in that era. With photography, we are seeing not just an image, but a convergence of technology, labor, and a globalized market for images.