Description
Photograph, 'Street scene in the outer Chinese city', black and white, silver gelatin print, by Hedda Morrison, Peking, China, 1933-1946. The image shows a narrow busy street in the Chinese city of Peking with many banners hanging from shopfronts. Three rickshaw pullers pull rickshaws up the street beside pedestrians. Other pedestrians browse in shopfront windows.

Significance statement
This street in Dashila features the Laomeihua shoe shop (right). Laomeihua shoes were a famous Tianjin brand. In 1930 the company established a shop at the western end of Dashila. Soon after, many other shoe shops sprang up in competition giving rise to the name 'Shoe Street' which flourished for a short time. The decorative cloth banners, neon and electric lights, handpainted and carved wooden signs mostly advertise shoe and leather shops. The Chinese character signs, suspended horizontally and vertically, create a layered image. By angling her camera slightly upwards, Morrison has focused on the look of the street rather than street life. A 1935 guide to Peking recommends visiting the area 'especially at night, when the mixture of gorgeous flags and sign boards with modern electric lights gives a very picturesque effect' (Arlington, L.C. & Lewisohn, W. 'In search of Old Peking', Oxford University Press New York, 1987).

Production notes
This is one of a large number of photographs that were taken by Hedda Morrison (1908-1991) during her years of residence in Peking (Beijing), China 1933-1946.

Credit line
Gift of Mr Alastair Morrison, 1992

Registration number
92/1414-212