PIONEERING Chinese photographers are under-recognised for their contributions to the history of photography. Works by early American and European exponents have been shown in China and appear in exhibitions in the world’s most prestigious museums, but their Chinese peers remain largely unknown. This is due in part to the scarcity of fine photographs of China from the period. Appreciation for late Qing dynasty (1644-1911) photographs, as the foundation of art photography in China, requires an understanding of the arduous technical photographic processes required and knowledge of the enduring impact of traditional Chinese visual culture on Chinese photographers.
Stacey Lambrow. “Photographic Artists: Early Chinese Photography Studios.” Arts of Asia, Spring 2022.