Complex sentence: In 1903, Cixi allowed a young aristocratic photographer named Xunling, a brother of Der Ling, to take elaborately staged shots of her and her court, designed to convey imperial authority, aesthetic refinement, and religious piety.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1903, Cixi allowed a young aristocratic photographer named Xunling, a brother of Der Ling, to take elaborately staged shots of her and her court. They were designed to convey imperial authority, aesthetic refinement, and religious piety.