Archways, Beijing, China

1948

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Associated Names
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Artist, French, 1908 - 2004

George Karas

Printer

The image is from ground level, showing a series of traditional Chinese architectural archways receding into the distance. The archways are intricately decorated with patterns. The horizon is low, hidden by the structures and urban scene beyond. The grayscale palette emphasizes contrasts between the dark outlines and shadows of the architecture and the lighter sky. People on bicycles and on foot move towards the arches, while a vehicle with passengers on top is centrally located, creating a sense of depth. In the distance, more people and urban architecture can be seen, with power lines crisscrossing the sky above.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Gary Davis

  • Dimensions

    image: 15.9 × 23.7 cm (6 1/4 × 9 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.118.34

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York); Gary Davis, Greenwich, CT, purchased 2002; gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, stamped, upper right in black ink with blue pencil underlining: PEIPING ESSAY 48; stamped, perpendicular, upper right in black ink: LIFE PHOTO / BY / Bresson [artist's name in graphite]; by unknown hand, center right in graphite: 76 / C-275 / 8; stamped, inverted in black ink: LIFE PRINT / BY / GEORGE KARAS; perpendicular, lower left in graphite: Soldiers going through cast arches; stamped, perpendicular, upper left in black ink: DEC 22 1948; stamped, perpendicular, upper left in blue ink: 28316-A [letter in blue pencil]; center left in graphite: x WARS - CHINA CIVIL - ACTION - '48 - PEIPING; lower center in graphite: PF49198 (GD-TL-277) GDC-193

Wikidata ID

Q64154993

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