Keizerlijke processie in Beijing 1786

Isidore-Stanislas Helman created this print called 'Imperial Procession in Beijing' with etching. The print depicts a formal procession in a city, and the crowd of onlookers in the foreground and background make it clear that this is a carefully staged public display of power. The composition of the image, in which the figures are arranged in strict horizontal rows parallel to the picture plane, brings to mind earlier artistic traditions in China, where the print is set. Helman was a French artist, however, and this print reflects France's growing fascination with China at the time. In France, prints such as this one served a vital function. They provided visual information about faraway places to a public keen to learn more about the world, whether for purposes of trade or conquest. Understanding the role of prints in shaping public opinion is vital to understanding their history. In researching them, historians consult not only art historical sources, but also trade records, government archives, and other primary source material.