Auguste François

François, Auguste (1857-1935), French consul in south China between 1896 and 1904, first in Longzhou (Guizhou) and Kunming (Yunnan-fu) in Yunnan. He also undertook several exploration trips on major rivers and in eastern Tibet. He extensively photographed places and people, from officials to labourers and actors. About an hour of movie footage has also survived. In retirement, he wrote texts elucidating his images. François's work has been an invaluable means of documenting China's state palaces in the last decade of the empire. His archive is held by the Association Auguste François in France.

— Régine Thiriez