Woo-She-Shan
1876
Medium
Albumen silver print from glass negative
Dimensions
Image: 9 5/16 × 10 15/16 in. (23.7 × 27.8 cm)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gilman Collection, Purchase, Robert Rosenkranz Gift, 2005
Accession Number
2005.100.494.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
In 1876, Chinese photographer Tung Hing capturedWoo-She-Shan* using the albumen silver print process from a glass negative, cutting-edge technique of the era that produced richly toned images with exceptional detail. This 9 5/16 × 10 15/16 in. photograph, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gil Collection, showcases a panoramic view of a Chinese town nestled amid fortifications, houses, and architectural landmarks. The crisp clarity of the albumen medium highlights intricate rooftops, sturdy walls, and communal structures, offering a vivid snapshot of daily life in late Qing dynasty China....