An Envoy in China

The black-and-white photograph captures Count Karl von Luxburg in China. The precise date of the image and the identity of the photographer remain unknown. In the photograph, Count Karl is dressed in Western attire, and it was likely taken during a stroll through Beijing.

At his request, Count Karl was assigned to the German legation in Beijing in 1905. In his autobiography, he shared his impressions of the city and its people.

In 1905, Count Karl worked under the envoy Baron Alfons Mumm von Schwarzenstein (1859-1924), whom he described as clever and ambitious. Considered a friend of China, von Schwarzenstein endeavoured to pursue a considerate policy during a time of armed conflict. Nevertheless, one of his responsibilities was to organise the so-called petition visit of Chinese Prince Chun II (1883-1951) to Emperor Wilhelm II (1859-1941) in Potsdam, as stipulated in the "Boxer Protocol", which was intended to humiliate China.

A keen photographer, von Schwarzenstein documented his life in Beijing and his travels throughout China. He dedicated his 1902 publication, "Ein Tagebuch in Bildern" (A Diary in Pictures), to his staff at the embassy in Beijing. It is possible that he inspired Count Karl to record his own travels through China in photographs.