Views in China Canton Group of Palanquin Bearers, resting opposite the parcel office at Canton c. 1850 - 1860

This hand-colored stereoscopic photograph was captured by Felice Beato, presenting a view in Canton, China. It depicts a group of palanquin bearers resting, highlighting the visual codes of colonial-era photography. Beato, a British-Italian photographer, documented the social landscape of China during a period of significant upheaval. The image, made during the late Qing Dynasty, reflects the social conditions shaped by Western intervention and trade. The palanquin bearers themselves represent a socio-economic structure dependent on manual labor. The presence of the ‘parcel office’ in the background subtly alludes to the burgeoning international trade shaping Canton’s economy. To fully understand this image, one would need to delve into the history of British trade with China, the Opium Wars, and the visual culture of colonialism. Researching period documents, trade records, and other visual representations of China would provide more historical context. The meaning of art, in this case, is contingent on these social and institutional histories.