Dwelling on the Water, Canton 1869

"Dwelling on the Water, Canton" is a photo by John Thomson from his series "Street Life in London" documenting daily life in the 19th century. It captures a simple dwelling, built on stilts over water, housing a family in Canton, China. The image depicts a mother and two children, with the mother seated in the doorway, and the children sitting on the stilts. The photograph offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of working-class people in China, a time of significant social and economic change. Thomson's work, a combination of photojournalism and documentary photography, provides valuable insights into a pivotal period in history.