Frank Dorn
Beijing, 1936
32 x 28 in
81 x 71 cm
81 x 71 cm
SEAS5496
Copyright The Artist
Nice example of Dorn's now iconic pictorial map of Beijing drawn while he was stationed there to illustrate the history and geography of the city. Dorn was a career military...
Nice example of Dorn's now iconic pictorial map of Beijing drawn while he was stationed there to illustrate the history and geography of the city.
Dorn was a career military officer with a distinguished record who retired in 1953 with the rank of Brigadier General. Earlier in his career, in the 1930s, he was stationed in Beijing where he designed this now iconic pictorial map of the city.
The map reflects his fascination with the architecture of the city, in particular its many palaces and the history associated with them. This grew initially from his own visits and later through guided tours for important visitors during his assignment in Beijing. Once he made the decision to use a pictorial style for the map, he employed the whimsical figures and buildings pioneered by Macdonald Gill in the early decades of the 20th century. In addition, Dorn was personally acquainted with another famous pictorial cartographer, Jo Mora, whose work clearly provided an inspiration for this map.
An illustrated border on the upper centre and the right focuses on the history of the city. The interior highlights geographical features such as the Temple of Heaven and the Altar to Agriculture as well as other famous buildings and temples. A cartouche on the lower centre gives a brief history of the city.
Two editions of the map have been traced, both in 1936. The major difference between them is the updating of flags illustrated in the foreign legations, most famously the addition of a German swastika. This example bears this flag.
Laid in linen. Original colour. [SEAS5496]
Dorn was a career military officer with a distinguished record who retired in 1953 with the rank of Brigadier General. Earlier in his career, in the 1930s, he was stationed in Beijing where he designed this now iconic pictorial map of the city.
The map reflects his fascination with the architecture of the city, in particular its many palaces and the history associated with them. This grew initially from his own visits and later through guided tours for important visitors during his assignment in Beijing. Once he made the decision to use a pictorial style for the map, he employed the whimsical figures and buildings pioneered by Macdonald Gill in the early decades of the 20th century. In addition, Dorn was personally acquainted with another famous pictorial cartographer, Jo Mora, whose work clearly provided an inspiration for this map.
An illustrated border on the upper centre and the right focuses on the history of the city. The interior highlights geographical features such as the Temple of Heaven and the Altar to Agriculture as well as other famous buildings and temples. A cartouche on the lower centre gives a brief history of the city.
Two editions of the map have been traced, both in 1936. The major difference between them is the updating of flags illustrated in the foreign legations, most famously the addition of a German swastika. This example bears this flag.
Laid in linen. Original colour. [SEAS5496]
