社会学的解读:英使团画家笔下的中国

China as Depicted by a Painter Attached to the Macartney Expedition: A Reading from a Sociological Perspective

18世纪末英国马戛尔尼使团访华,是中英关系史上重大的历史事件。英国国家图书馆保存有随团制图员亚历山大绘制的一份完整的访华见闻图。由于绘图者视角的特殊性,这批绘画成为研究当时中国社会不可多得的形象史料。画家描绘了各个阶层、各种职业的人物肖像,也描绘了交通工具、建筑、军事、运河等场景。从社会学角度反映了当时中国的生活状况,以及中英在军力、船舰、生产方式、宗教风俗等多方面的差异。

The late-18th century visit of the Macartney mission to China was a signal event in Sino-British relations. A full visual documentary record of the mission by William Alexander is preserved in the British Museum. The unique eye of this documentary artist has ensured that a rare record of Chinese society at that time has been captured. As well as creating portraits of people from various walks of life and trades, the artist has documented the modes of transport, architecture, military life and canal traffic of the time. His work reflects the material reality of Chinese life, as well as the differences between the weaponry, production forces and religious customs that existed between Britain and China at that time.