Teh Hop-Ho (Canton) and his Son 1869

John Thomson made this photograph of Teh Hop-Ho and his son in Canton using the wet collodion process. This required coating a glass plate with chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The resulting image shows us not just the sitters but also something about the photographer’s time and effort. The wet collodion process was complex and time-sensitive, demanding skill and access to a portable darkroom. This highlights the colonial context in which Thomson was working. He was one of the first photographers to document the people and landscapes of China for a Western audience. The sepia tones and soft focus give the photograph a timeless quality, yet the details of dress and setting firmly place it in the late 19th century. Thomson’s technical mastery allowed him to capture a moment of intimacy and connection, preserving it for us to contemplate today. It is an invaluable social document as well as a work of art.