How did Chinese Empress Cixi use photographs as a political tool?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Cixi used photographs of herself as a campaign to reconstruct the public identity of the Qing court because Cixi was a controversial ruler.

She sent amazing painted prints and photographs to ministers, governors, and generals, clearly crafting an image of a magnanimous sovereign who was both a formidable politician and dignity.

anonymous · Answer

President Theodore Roosevelt received prints, this underscored the complex engagement with foreign powers by the Qing court through this practice of exchanging portraits...trading images to support Chinese diplomacy

anonymous · Answer

I agree with both of the above