Amoy Houses 1869

"Amoy Houses" is a 1869 photograph by John Thomson, a British photographer known for his documentation of daily life in Asia. The photograph, part of his "China" series, captures a bird's-eye view of a dense residential area in Amoy (now Xiamen), China. Thomson's meticulous attention to detail reveals the intricate architecture, showcasing the traditional Chinese tiled roofs and the complex network of streets and courtyards. The image offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who inhabited these densely populated houses, capturing a moment of everyday life in 19th-century China. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York currently holds this piece in its collection.