With the Empress Dowager of China

With the Empress Dowager of China is a firsthand account by American artist Katharine Carl, published in 1906, detailing her nine-month experience in the Chinese Imperial Court while painting a portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi. Carl provides unique insights into the customs, politics, and personalities of the royal household, countering misrepresentations in the Western press. The book highlights Cixi's complex legacy as a ruler and offers a rare glimpse into a world largely unseen by Westerners. Carl's portrait of Cixi is now part of the Smithsonian's collection.