The Chinese Junk "Keying"–Captain Kellett–As she appeared in New York harbour July 13th, 1847–212 days from Canton.–720 tons burthen. 1847

Nathaniel Currier created this print of the Chinese Junk "Keying" in 1847 to commemorate its arrival in New York harbor. It’s more than just a ship portrait; it’s a window into the cultural and economic exchanges of the 19th century. The image displays a Chinese trading vessel, a junk, flying both Chinese and American flags. The Keying's voyage from Canton to New York symbolizes the burgeoning trade relations between China and the United States during a period marked by Western expansionism and the Opium Wars. The detailed rendering of the ship, combined with factual data in the print, reflects a Western fascination with the exotic and a desire to quantify and understand foreign cultures. Prints like these were popular in America at the time, reflecting a society eager to engage with global trade. To truly understand this image, one might delve into records of maritime trade, accounts of Western interactions with China, and the history of Currier's printing business. Doing so, we can better understand the complex relationship between artistic representation, cultural exchange, and economic power.