Pagode in Canton 1863 - 1870

Dutton & Michaels made this albumen print, titled 'Pagode in Canton,' sometime in the 19th century. The photograph captures the architecture of Canton, now Guangzhou, at a time when Western photographers were documenting and, in some ways, framing the East for Western audiences. The pagoda, a traditional tiered tower with multiple eaves, stands as a symbol of Chinese culture and history, but the colonial gaze is subtly present. The choice to photograph it in a state of disrepair, alongside what appears to be a ruined building, invites questions about how Westerners perceived China at the time. Was it seen as a civilization in decline? The presence of figures in the foreground also prompts considerations of class and identity. These individuals, likely local inhabitants, are positioned in relation to the pagoda, raising questions about who is telling the story and whose perspective is prioritized. The photograph becomes a layered narrative of cultural exchange, power dynamics, and historical representation.