The Unseen Artist and His Vision: Late Nineteenth-century images of central Formosa
ITH 30th Anniversary Celebration Lecture Series #1
Speaker:
Douglas L. Fix (Elizabeth C. Ducey Professor of Asian Studies, History Department, Reed College)
Topic:
The Unseen Artist and His Vision: Late Nineteenth-century images of central Formosa
看不見的藝術家和他的視界：19世紀晚期臺灣中部的圖像
Date and Time:
Tuesday, March 21, 2023. 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Place:
Room 802 at ITH
Language:
Chinese
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Abstract:
Following the retreat of the Japanese military from southern Taiwan in late 1874, and not long after Shen Baozhen began to implement his kaishan fufan policy, new photographs of Taiwan landscapes and Formosan aborigines began to appear in treaty-port studios catering to a foreign clientele. These images featured portraits of residents of the indigenous settlements at 'Dragon Foot Lake' (today's Sun Moon Lake) and of the pingpuzu villages near Puli. Shots of forested hills, lakeshore views, geological outcropping, paddy fields and tea gardens, as well as of the new road near Jiji were all captured by the "photographic artist" who took these images. This lecture will examine the content of these photographs, situate them in the contexts of English Presbyterian missionary networks and consular investigations, and explore the possibilities of a convincing attribution to one of Taiwan's earliest foreign image-makers. Comparisons with the November 1875 photographic investigation in Formosa of the famous Cantonese photographer, Lai Afong, will also be attempted. Of greatest importance is exploring the significance of these photographs for our understanding of Taiwan's nineteenth-century photographic history.
Please Note:
- This is a face-to-face event. If the pandemic situation changes, the event will be changed to online mode according to the CDC regulations. Please check the updates on our website (via this page).
- If you have a fever, please refrain from attending and follow CDC’s pandemic related regulations.
