Straatgezicht te Peking before 1920

This is a photograph titled, "Straatgezicht te Peking" by Donald Mennie. Captured in a sepia tone, the photograph presents a street view in Peking. The composition is structured by the receding lines of the street and buildings, creating a sense of depth. The architectural elements, with their vertical posts and horizontal canopies, create a grid-like structure that orders the scene. Mennie plays with light and shadow, using the sun to cast strong shadows that emphasize the geometric forms of the buildings and the figures walking along the street. These contrasts not only add visual interest but also serve to highlight the material qualities of the architecture. This structured composition, combined with the tonal range of the sepia print, invites us to consider how the photograph mediates our perception of space and culture. The photograph functions not just as a record but as an interpretation of a specific time and place.