Keizer Qianlong omringd door zijn troepen 1784

Isidore-Stanislas Helman created this print, "Emperor Qianlong Surrounded by his Troops", using etching and engraving. The image captures Qianlong, an emperor of the Qing dynasty. This artwork serves as a window into the power dynamics and cultural exchanges of the 18th century. Qianlong's reign was marked by significant territorial expansion, and also intense censorship. He commissioned the "Four Treasuries," a project to compile and preserve Chinese classics, but it was also used to identify and destroy texts deemed subversive to Qing rule. Helman's print invites us to consider the ways in which rulers seek to project images of power and legitimacy. The print also reflects the Western fascination with and interpretation of the East, during a period of increasing global interaction and colonial expansion. In this way, the image embodies the complexities of cultural encounter, power, and representation.