The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

A Commercial Street in Guangzhou

c. 1880

Lai Fong (Afong Studio)

(Chinese, c. 1839–1890)
China
albumen print
Sheet: 29 x 22.5 cm (11 7/16 x 8 7/8 in.)
Gift of Michael F. Resch 2022.341
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Lai Fong’s studio, Afong Studio, was the most successful in China in the late 1800s, selling well to both Chinese and non-Chinese customers.

Description

Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton, is located on the Pearl River and has for centuries been a center of trade and commerce. The photographer emphasizes the energy and bustle of this street of shops and businesses through the blurred figure in motion at bottom left. Other men peer out to watch the photographer—not a common sight in those days—as he captures their image on film.
  • ?-2022
    Michael Resch, Gates Mills, OH, given to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=A Commercial Street in Guangzhou|url=false|author=Lai Fong (Afong Studio)|year=c. 1880|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2022.341