Culling Tea 1869

"Culling Tea" is an 1869 albumen print by Chinese photographer Lai Fong. The image portrays six women meticulously sorting tea leaves while seated in front of a plain backdrop, creating a sense of focus on their activity. This photograph exemplifies Fong’s interest in capturing the daily lives of his contemporaries, providing a glimpse into the labor-intensive process of tea production in 19th-century China. The work is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.