China in Asia, from "Court Game of Geography" 1838 - 1855

Curator: At first glance, the muted tones and detailed engraving create this wonderful sense of history. Editor: Indeed. What we’re looking at is a print titled "China in Asia, from 'Court Game of Geography'" by William and Henry Rock, dating back to between 1838 and 1855. It's currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. I understand it was part of an educational game. Curator: A game, you say? It's a playful aesthetic, isn't it? Almost like a playing card. The golden diamonds arranged around the map suggest that, don't they? But those very same diamonds, in my view, obscure and obstruct… almost creating a sense of imposed…ownership. Editor: That's a compelling interpretation. You see, the imagery used… maps themselves carry an inherent symbolism of power, control, and knowledge. By framing China within this card-like format, the game reduces a complex, ancient civilization to a mere playing piece in a Western "game" of geopolitical understanding. And it reinforces the colonial gaze of the era. Curator: Absolutely! The neat lines, the ordered place names… it’s all very…clinical. Like pinning a butterfly in a display case, drained of its vibrant life force. Although the artistry itself, in its time, would have been viewed very differently. Editor: The stylistic conventions of the time definitely leaned towards a more "objective" representation, aiming to present the information as factually and unemotionally as possible. That old engraving style lends itself well to a sense of documented truth, doesn't it? And it speaks of the Victorian Era’s particular fascination with the exotic ‘Orient’, an "Orient" carefully curated to fit specific cultural narratives. Curator: Well, it has certainly sparked thoughts on cartography, education, and power dynamics. Fascinating how a seemingly simple image can unravel layers of meaning. Editor: It certainly is. This small print is a poignant reminder of how deeply embedded cultural assumptions can be within seemingly innocent games and educational tools.