Tempel te Peking before 1920

Donald Mennie made this photograph, Tempel te Peking, sometime in the early 20th century. The image is sepia-toned, creating a sense of distance, like a memory fading at the edges. I imagine Mennie carefully setting up his camera, adjusting the focus to capture the temple's intricate details. What was it like to be there, seeing this temple in person? What stories do those bricks hold? The temple feels so sturdy, like it’s been standing for centuries, watching the world change around it. The bare branches of the trees remind me of ink brushstrokes, delicate and precise against the building’s solid form. The light and shadows play across the columns, giving a sense of depth. I wonder if Mennie was drawn to the way the light transformed the familiar into something almost abstract. It's a quiet, thoughtful image, inviting you to pause and reflect on the passage of time and the enduring power of architecture.