About the event
John Thomson (14 June 1837 – 29 September 1921) was a pioneering Scottish photographer, geographer, and traveller. He was one of the first photographers to travel to the Far East, documenting the people, landscapes and artefacts of eastern cultures. Upon returning home, his work among the street people of London cemented his reputation, and is regarded as a classic instance of social documentary which laid the foundations for photojournalism. He went on to become a portrait photographer of high society in Mayfair, gaining the royal warrant in 1881.
This talk by Deborah Ireland will offer an in-depth look at Thomson’s work in Siam, Cambodian and China. It will use his original negatives and photographic prints to look at how he recorded the lives of the people he met.
The talk is hosted by the Friends of the Bodleian, but is open to all.
Speaker
Deborah Ireland is a freelance curator and author specialising in the history of photography with an interest in travel photography. Her previous posts include Assistant Curator at the Royal Photographic Society and Director of Photography at AA Publishing. She has curated exhibitions and written for the Royal Geographical Society, including Isabella Bird, a photographic journal of travels through China 1894 – 1896. She is also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.
Event information
Attend in person
Attend online
- You can also register to attend this event online.
Join Friends of the Bodleian
To enjoy closer access to the Bodleian, including exclusive events and priority access to online content, join the Friends today. For more information, email fob@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
