Straatgezicht met paifang before 1920

This sepia photograph, probably taken in the early 20th century by Donald Mennie, shows a bustling street scene framed by a traditional Paifang gate. The soft, warm tones create a nostalgic feel, like looking back into a memory. The photograph has a slightly faded quality, with details dissolving into the background. Look closely at the textures. See the rough stone, the rickety carts, and the packed earth. These elements give the image a tangible presence. Mennie has chosen to focus on the everyday activity of the street: people moving, trading, and just being. This feels less like a staged shot and more like a slice of life, captured with sensitivity. Like the work of Atget in Paris at the same time, Mennie is capturing a time and place that is already becoming history. What is photography if not a conversation with the past? What will our own photos say about us, years from now?