Exhibition Overview

This exhibition features a curated selection of 19th-century Western prints from the collection of the Macao Museum of Art (MAM). Through the delicate lines and colors of copperplate engravings, audiences are offered a unique glimpse into the bygone folk customs, landscapes, and social life of China as perceived by Western eyes.

Historical Context

• Prior to the invention and popularization of photography, realistic painting and prints were vital media for recording and disseminating visual information.
• From the 17th to the 19th centuries, Westerners largely formed their understanding of China through these printed images.
• The exhibition traces the development of this visual exchange, highlighting key figures and works that shaped Western perceptions.

Featured Artists and Works

• John Nieuhoff (1618–1672): A Dutch painter and sailor who accompanied the Dutch East India Company delegation to China in 1656. His sketches and writings from Macao to Canton were compiled into Record of the East India Company Delegation’s Visit to China (1665).
• Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680): A German Jesuit whose encyclopedic work China Monumentis (1667) was renowned for its exquisite illustrations, so coveted that pages were often stolen from library copies.
• William Alexander (1767–1816): The painter who documented the 1793 Macartney Mission to China. His watercolors later served as the basis for Thomas Allom's famous steel engraving collection, China, The Scenery, Architecture, and Social Habits of That Ancient Empire.

Exhibition Significance

• Moves beyond a simple display to offer deep scholarly and public engagement with the works.
• Highlights the dual value of these prints as both artistic achievements and irreplaceable historical documents for researching modern Chinese and Macanese society.
• Features specialized research and analysis by printmaker and Associate Professor Sou Pui Kun of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, who clarified historical details and analyzed the printmaking techniques (woodcut, lithograph, copperplate, steel engraving).

Key Information

• Date: August 10 – December 31, 2013
• Venue: Macao Museum of Art (MAM)
• Admission: Not specified (assumed ticketed)

Curatorial Insight

Organized by the Macao Museum of Art, this exhibition underscores the institution's role in a city with a unique East-West cultural exchange history. It invites visitors to re-evaluate the academic and artistic value of China-themed illustrations in Western典籍, aligning with MAM's mission to help the public understand and connect with art.