Last Updated on 2024/02/26
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The work of Maurice-Louis Branger in China
Maurice-Louis Branger, a distinguished French photographer, was born in the town of Fontainebleau in 1874. Embarking on his career in photography in 1895, Branger quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the field. It was approximately in 1905 when he founded Photopresse.
Branger’s photographic journey led him to various locations across China, capturing the essence of life and landscapes between 1900 and 1914. His work includes a remarkable collection of images from major cities and regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Macau, and Changsha, among others. These photographs not only offer a glimpse into the architectural and cultural milieu of early 20th-century China but also serve as a historical archive documenting the era’s socio-political climate.
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During this period, China was experiencing significant turmoil, most notably the Boxer Uprising. This was an armed insurrection that erupted between 1899 and 1901, marking a crucial point towards the end of the Qing dynasty. Characterized by its xenophobic, anti-Christian, and anti-imperialist sentiments, the uprising was a direct response to foreign influence and intervention in China. The rebellion was spearheaded by the “Boxers,” a group who sought to expel foreign elements from Chinese society, leading to a violent clash with both foreign and Christian populations within the country.
Branger’s work during this tumultuous period provides a unique visual documentation of China’s historical landscape, capturing the complexity of its cultural, social, and political fabric at the dawn of the 20th century.
Old China photos of the Boxer Rebellion, Xinhai uprising, foreign concessions and daily life by Maurice-Louis Branger
Yuan Shikai (袁世凱; 16 September 1859 – 6 June 1916) was a prominent Chinese general and warlord known for his significant impact in the waning years of the Qing dynasty. He played a crucial role in the sequence of events that led to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor. Yuan is also notable for his tenure as the first official President of the Republic of China, where he exercised autocratic control. Additionally, his fleeting endeavor to reestablish the monarchy in China, crowning himself as the Hongxian Emperor, marks a notable episode in Chinese history.
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The Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命), also referred to as the Chinese Revolution or the Revolution of 1911, marked a crucial moment in Chinese history by ending the Qing dynasty, China’s last imperial dynasty, and founding the Republic of China (ROC). This significant upheaval is denoted as the Xinhai Revolution because it unfolded in 1911, a year designated as Xinhai (辛亥, metal pig) in the Chinese sexagenary cycle, which combines the 12 earthly branches with the 10 heavenly stems.
The Boxer Rebellion was a violent anti-foreign, and anti-Christian uprising that took place in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty. It was initiated by the Militia United in Righteousness (Yihetuan, the “Boxers”), for many of their members had been practitioners of the martial arts, such as boxing. They were motivated by proto-nationalist sentiments and opposition to Western colonialism and associated Christian missionary activity. [wikipedia]
Source: Europeana , Parisienne de Photographie, [wikipedia], [wikipedia]
Topic: photos of ancient china,historical photographs of china,pictures of ancient chinese civilization,pictures of china,old chinese paintings,pictures of the great wall of china,qing dynasty photos, biography of Maurice-Louis Branger