The Chinese men-of-war replying to the attack of the Japanese siege-guns on a hill to the W. of Peishantsuy, W. of the W. entrance to Wei-Hai-Wei harbour Possibly 1895

This photograph, taken on February 6th, presents a scene from the Expedition to Wei-Hai-Wei, capturing a moment of conflict. The composition is structured around a horizontal division, where the foreground is dominated by a dark, solid landmass, contrasting sharply with the expansive, lighter-toned sea and sky above. The eye is drawn towards the horizon where the Chinese and Japanese forces clash; the smoke plumes rise, disrupting the otherwise serene seascape. This carefully arranged structure directs our gaze not only to the immediate subject of warfare but also to a broader meditation on space, power, and representation. The photographer employs a semiotic system in which light and dark, solid and fluid, represent opposing forces. This image, therefore, functions beyond mere documentation; it destabilizes any fixed interpretation of the event, inviting ongoing reflection on the dynamics of conflict and the multifaceted nature of historical narrative.