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This oil on canvas, dating to circa 1850 during the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang/Xianfeng period, offers a historical vista of the Hongs at Canton. It portrays the bustling Pearl River with Chinese junks and vessels, against the backdrop of the American, French, British, and Danish factories, all located near the Protestant church on the waterfront. This artwork encapsulates a moment of Western trade prosperity in Canton, before the city’s pivotal changes. Encased in a parcel-gilt-wood frame, the painting serves as a rich document of cross-cultural exchange and architectural evolution, reflecting the European influence on the Cantonese trade.
This painting transports us to the mid-19th century Canton, a time of flourishing trade and cultural exchange between the East and West. I am drawn to its vivid depiction of the bustling Pearl River, alive with Chinese junks and Western vessels, a testament to the vibrant trade that thrived in this period. The European factories, or hongs, stand as symbols of the significant Western presence, each bearing the distinct architecture that blends Eastern and Western design. This scene, captured just before major shifts in Canton’s trade dynamics, speaks to a period of prosperity and cooperation, offering a window into a pivotal moment in global trade history.
The context surrounding this painting is as compelling as the scene it depicts. The hongs, established mid-18th century, reflect the evolution of Canton from a regional trading post to a global commerce hub. The artwork captures Canton after the Great Fire of 1822, the blockade of 1839, and the First Opium War, a time when the city was rebuilding and redefining itself.
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Stock Number: 52349
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