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Western woman in carrying chair, Hong Kong, China
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Western woman in carrying chair, Hong Kong, China
Western woman in carrying chair, Hong Kong, China. Another Western woman sits in a rickshaw (right), and four Western children stand watching (left). Date: circa 1890
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14137287
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Pump Park Photography
Colonialism Hong Inequality Kong Rickshaw Stand
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph taken circa 1890, a Western woman dressed in an elegant Victorian gown sits comfortably in a carrying chair, being carried by two Chinese men through the bustling streets of Hong Kong, China. The scene is a stark reminder of the unequal power dynamics that defined the late 19th century British colonial rule in China. The woman's relaxed demeanor and the attentive gaze of the four Western children standing to her left, who seem to be watching the scene with curiosity, contrast sharply with the hard labor of the Chinese men who carry her. The rickshaw to the right, in which another Western woman sits, further underscores the stark divide between the privileged Westerners and the local population. The British Empire's influence in China during the late 1800s was extensive, and Hong Kong was a major trading port and center of British colonial power. The use of carrying chairs and rickshaws to transport Westerners around the city was a common sight during this period, reflecting the deep-rooted inequalities of the colonial system. This photograph provides a glimpse into a bygone era, offering a poignant reminder of the complex and often fraught history of Western imperialism in China. The image invites us to reflect on the ways in which power, privilege, and identity intersected during this period, and to consider the ongoing legacies of colonialism in contemporary society.
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