Snapshots of History Season 1 Episode 6 Victor Bermon - An Officer on the Yangtze

In the early 20th century, China was a waning empire in the sway of the European nations. France, already in Indochina, was trying to expand its influence. In 1905, Victor Bermon, a French naval officer, was sent to China to assure the presence of France on the Yangtze river. He took photos of his mission and daily life in China. These images are a record of the Empire just before its collapse.