Artwork Page for Stone Horses

Details / Information for Stone Horses

Stone Horses

c. 1870
photographer

Lai Fong (Afong Studio)

(Chinese, c. 1839–1890)
View all records in artwork set
Culture
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
Medium
Albumen print
Measurements
Image: 22 x 29 cm (8 11/16 x 11 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 2026.69.b
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Lai Fong was the preeminent Chinese photographer of the 19th century.

Description

Lai was a talented photographer and shrewd businessman who operated a studio in Hong Kong called Afong Studio. He competed successfully with British and European competitors, perhaps because, as he advertised, his catalogue of views of China were “larger, choicer, and more complete…than any other in the Empire.” He provided an insider’s look at the modernization and other changes brought to China by trade and war with Western nations.
A horizontally oriented albumen print features two large, weathered stone horse statues facing each other in the foreground. They sit with legs tucked under heavy bodies amidst tall grass. Two smaller stone horses stand further back, silhouetted against a low horizon. A flat, pale sky meets the distant land, emphasizing the isolation and symmetry of the monumental figures within the vast, open landscape.

Stone Horses

c. 1870

Lai Fong (Afong Studio)

(Chinese, c. 1839–1890)
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork