Macao Street 

John Michael Carter’s painting, Macao Street, captures a rainy day scene with a focus on the vibrant commercial signage. The painting provides an insight into the visual culture of Macao, likely created in the late 20th or early 21st century. The proliferation of signs in Chinese characters reflects the city's unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures, particularly after the handover of sovereignty to China in 1999. The street scene, bustling with people despite the rain, hints at Macao’s economic activity, which has shifted over time from fishing and trade to gambling and tourism. Carter’s impressionistic style softens the edges of the architecture, adding to the overall atmospheric quality of the street. To fully understand the context of this painting, research into Macao’s social history is essential, including its colonial past, economic development, and cultural identity.