Rare 19th-century images show China at the dawn of photography

Oscar Holland, CNN
Updated 11:04 PM EDT, Thu October 1, 2020
Stephan Loewentheil's exhaustive photo archive shines a new light on life in 19th-century China. Scroll through to see more images from his collection.
"Young Barbers" (c.1870) Unattributed —
Stephan Loewentheil's exhaustive photo archive shines a new light on life in 19th-century China. Scroll through to see more images from his collection.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
A number of the photos in Loewentheil's collection were taken by unidentified artists.
"Transportation on the Streets of Shanghai" (c.1878) Unattributed —
A number of the photos in Loewentheil's collection were taken by unidentified artists.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
The 15,000-strong photo collection features everyday Chinese tradespeople from the time, like this weaver.
"Weaver" (1865) by William Saunders —
The 15,000-strong photo collection features everyday Chinese tradespeople from the time, like this weaver.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
After foreigners introduced cameras to China, pioneering figures like Lai Afong produced portraits, landscapes and cityscapes that were, in Loewentheil's eyes, equal in quality to those being produced in the West.
"Actors" (1870) by Lai Afong —
After foreigners introduced cameras to China, pioneering figures like Lai Afong produced portraits, landscapes and cityscapes that were, in Loewentheil's eyes, equal in quality to those being produced in the West.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Like many of the early Western photographers, Thomas Child sold his photos to magazines and book publishers.
"Jade Belt Bridge" (1870s) by Thomas Child —
Like many of the early Western photographers, Thomas Child sold his photos to magazines and book publishers.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Like in the West, Chinese public figures would often have their portraits taken at a photography studio. This image shows the influential politician and general Li Hongzhang.
Li Hongzhang" (c.1870) by Liang Shitai —
Like in the West, Chinese public figures would often have their portraits taken at a photography studio. This image shows the influential politician and general Li Hongzhang.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Photography spread throughout China in the latter half of the 19th century, leading to the creation of commercial studios specializing in portraits.
"Portrait of a Young Woman" (c.1860) Unattributed —
Photography spread throughout China in the latter half of the 19th century, leading to the creation of commercial studios specializing in portraits.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Studio portraits were often hand-painted by artists after being developed.
"Seated Woman" (c.1860) by San Hing —
Studio portraits were often hand-painted by artists after being developed.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
The images in Loewentheil's collection often document the architecture of buildings since damaged or destroyed.
"Lingnan Garden and Pavilion" (1870) by A Chan (Ya Zhen) Studio —
The images in Loewentheil's collection often document the architecture of buildings since damaged or destroyed.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Scottish photographer John Thompson's view of downtown Hong Kong is virtually unrecognizable from today's mass of skyscrapers.
"Central District, Hong Kong" (c.1870) by John Thompson —
Scottish photographer John Thompson's view of downtown Hong Kong is virtually unrecognizable from today's mass of skyscrapers.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
A panoramic view of Beijing's city walls, almost all of which have since been destroyed.
"North Gate, Beijing" (1860) by Felice Beato —
A panoramic view of Beijing's city walls, almost all of which have since been destroyed.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Scottish photographer John Thompson's journey up the Min River offered people in the West a rare look into the country's remote interior.
"Island Pagoda, Min River, Fujian" (1870) by John Thompson —
Scottish photographer John Thompson's journey up the Min River offered people in the West a rare look into the country's remote interior.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Thomas Child's pictures of Beijing's Summer Palace, which was subsequently burned down by Anglo-French forces, offer an invaluable record of its lost architecture.
"Fountains Gate, Old Summer Palace, Beijing" (1870s) by Thomas Child —
Thomas Child's pictures of Beijing's Summer Palace, which was subsequently burned down by Anglo-French forces, offer an invaluable record of its lost architecture.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
A street scene in Shanghai. Street photography proved especially challenging at the time, as the unavoidably long exposures often resulted in blurring.
"Street in Shanghai" (1880s) Unattributed —
A street scene in Shanghai. Street photography proved especially challenging at the time, as the unavoidably long exposures often resulted in blurring.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Englishman Thomas Child was an engineer stationed in Beijing (then Peking) for almost two decades. He often documented the intricacies of China's traditional architecture, although he also turned his lens toward human subjects.
"Beggars" (1870s) by Thomas Child —
Englishman Thomas Child was an engineer stationed in Beijing (then Peking) for almost two decades. He often documented the intricacies of China's traditional architecture, although he also turned his lens toward human subjects.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
A studio shot by American photographer Milton Miller, who captured life in Hong Kong and Guangzhou (then Canton) in the early 1860s.
"Merchants" (c.1860) by Milton Miller —
A studio shot by American photographer Milton Miller, who captured life in Hong Kong and Guangzhou (then Canton) in the early 1860s.
The Loewentheil Collection of China Photography
Rare photos of 19th-century China
CNN  —