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China Photographs by Emily Illies
from the Collection of Paul Rest
These photographs were taken by Emily Illies. Emily was born in Vienna, Austria, probably some
time after World War I ended. She married Herbert Illies, whose family owned an international
trading company, C. Illies & Co. (Hamburg, Germany) and moved with him initially to Indo-China
(as Vietnam was called then) and then Beijing. During her stay in Beijing, Emily traveled around
the city photographing people, buildings and images that caught her eye. As can be seen in these
photographs, Beijing at this time was still in an almost pre-industrial state, a sleepy city seemingly
passed over by time.
It is unknown what camera Emily used, but based on the quality of the images, she must have had
an excellent instrument. And her understanding of light and shadow is gifted, as is evidenced by
the high artistic quality of these scenes. It must also be noted that Emily was brave to even travel
on the streets of Beijing, streets that were not always friendly to Westerners, especially women.
Their life in China was abruptly interrupted when Emily, who was Jewish, lost her citizenship as a
consequence of the Nazi’s invading her home country in 1938 (the “Anchluss”). Herbert, by virtue
of being married to Emily, also lost his citizenship. They were trapped in China until 1941, at
which time they finally obtained the necessary papers to leave China and enter the United States.
They left Shanghai on a streamer and arrived in Los Angeles days before the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
These photographs are the surviving testament of the time Emily and Herbert lived in China. They
were gifted to Mr. Rest by Herbert’s second wife, Mary Illies, who was maternal grandmother of Mr.
Rest's son. Mary died in 2000. Herbert had preceded her some years before. It is unknown when
Emily passed away.
from the Collection of Paul Rest
These photographs were taken by Emily Illies. Emily was born in Vienna, Austria, probably some
time after World War I ended. She married Herbert Illies, whose family owned an international
trading company, C. Illies & Co. (Hamburg, Germany) and moved with him initially to Indo-China
(as Vietnam was called then) and then Beijing. During her stay in Beijing, Emily traveled around
the city photographing people, buildings and images that caught her eye. As can be seen in these
photographs, Beijing at this time was still in an almost pre-industrial state, a sleepy city seemingly
passed over by time.
It is unknown what camera Emily used, but based on the quality of the images, she must have had
an excellent instrument. And her understanding of light and shadow is gifted, as is evidenced by
the high artistic quality of these scenes. It must also be noted that Emily was brave to even travel
on the streets of Beijing, streets that were not always friendly to Westerners, especially women.
Their life in China was abruptly interrupted when Emily, who was Jewish, lost her citizenship as a
consequence of the Nazi’s invading her home country in 1938 (the “Anchluss”). Herbert, by virtue
of being married to Emily, also lost his citizenship. They were trapped in China until 1941, at
which time they finally obtained the necessary papers to leave China and enter the United States.
They left Shanghai on a streamer and arrived in Los Angeles days before the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
These photographs are the surviving testament of the time Emily and Herbert lived in China. They
were gifted to Mr. Rest by Herbert’s second wife, Mary Illies, who was maternal grandmother of Mr.
Rest's son. Mary died in 2000. Herbert had preceded her some years before. It is unknown when
Emily passed away.
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