The Capture Corean [sic] Standard 1871

This albumen silver print, titled "The Capture Corean Standard", was taken by Felice Beato. It depicts United States Navy sailors with a captured Korean flag, likely taken in 1871 during the United States' expedition to Korea. Beato's image is not merely a neutral record; it's a visual statement about power, conquest, and cultural domination. The photograph presents American military personnel as heroic figures, standing triumphantly with their captured prize. The Korean flag becomes a symbol of subjugation, reinforcing a narrative of Western superiority that was pervasive during this era of imperial expansion. The context is crucial. The late 19th century was marked by intense competition among Western powers for influence and control in Asia. Korea, then a relatively isolated kingdom, became a target for these ambitions. The US Navy's expedition aimed to open Korea to trade and diplomatic relations, but it quickly escalated into armed conflict. Scholarly resources such as diplomatic archives, military records, and historical accounts from both American and Korean perspectives, would allow one to dig deeper into the institutional and social dynamics at play here.