A Visual ‘Who’s Who’
The albums include images of the Tibetan, Bhutanese, Nepalese and Chinese officials who negotiated with or for the British. In most cases, this was the first time these important figures in 20th century Tibetan history had been photographed. The men stare out from the photograph albums and look straight into the camera’s lens suggesting that they have been asked to pose.
The four Shapés (Cabinet Ministers) were regularly photographed by British officers. Here, Sechung Shapé and Tsarong Shapé are photographed leaving Lhalu House in Lhasa following discussions with Colonel Younghusband, the leader of the British troops. The British took possession of Lhalu House, using it as their base while in Lhasa.
The British were very anxious to take photographs of these men. Before the British invaded Tibet in 1904 they had only a vague idea who held political and religious power in the country. Once there, they gathered as much information as they could – including photographs – on Tibet’s most influential men. They wanted to know who they could trust and who to treat with suspicion.
The Tongsa Penlop – Ugyen Wangchuk –supported the British rather than the Tibetans during the negotiations at Gyantse. These informal photographs show the Tongsa Penlop arriving with his entourage in Dromo.
The albums include images of the Tibetan, Bhutanese, Nepalese and Chinese officials who negotiated with or for the British. In most cases, this was the first time these important figures in 20th century Tibetan history had been photographed. The men stare out from the photograph albums and look straight into the camera’s lens suggesting that they have been asked to pose.
The four Shapés (Cabinet Ministers) were regularly photographed by British officers. Here, Sechung Shapé and Tsarong Shapé are photographed leaving Lhalu House in Lhasa following discussions with Colonel Younghusband, the leader of the British troops. The British took possession of Lhalu House, using it as their base while in Lhasa.
The British were very anxious to take photographs of these men. Before the British invaded Tibet in 1904 they had only a vague idea who held political and religious power in the country. Once there, they gathered as much information as they could – including photographs – on Tibet’s most influential men. They wanted to know who they could trust and who to treat with suspicion.