These engravings by the Western artists represent figures of the Armenian merchants in their traditional outfits. They were key figures and intermediaries in the East-West global trade. They were recognized by their peculiar turbans and garbs.  According to historians, Armenian merchants

Hundreds of Armenians journeyed eastward to China in the late 19th century in search of opportunity, anchoring themselves in major cities, as well as in Harbin, a town that rose to prominence with the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway.   Initially,