Old time Chinaman of the type that originally followed the crops in California, Sacramento, California

November 1936

Dorothea Lange

Associated Names
Dorothea Lange

Artist, American, 1895 - 1965

The image shows a man sitting on a stoop. He is positioned with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped together, gazing downwards. The man has a lined face and is wearing a hat that covers his hair. He is clothed in dark, layered attire including a long coat and pants. The setting appears to be an urban street with shopfronts. The door to his left reads "Chinese Benevolent Assn" and is marked with Chinese characters, and to his right is an entry labeled "915 Wah Lung Merchandise." The background features architectural details such as wooden paneling and windows characteristic of early 20th-century urban buildings, with signs indicating Western and Asian influences typical of Chinatown districts.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

London Office of War Information Overseas Branch, ca. 1943-1945. (Richard Moore Photographs, Oakland, CA); Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser, Van Nuys, CA, 31 May 2016; gift to NGA, 2018.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, possibly by artist, upper left in graphite: "Chinese Quarter"; by unknown hand, upper right in red pencil: NYP 9809; upper right in graphite: Lange; center stamped in black ink: OWI OVERSEAS BRANCH / EXHIBIT SECTION / Exhibit No. 73 / Title American Types / Picture No. 60 / CONTINGENCY


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