異想中國｜A Vibrant Voyage from China（Bilingual Edition中英雙語）

2024/07 香港中文大学出版社

西方人眼中的清代中国神祕而绮丽，从珠江河上华美的画舫到妇女裹著的三寸金莲，凡此种种都引发西方人极大的好奇心。这些对中国的异想，造就了外销画的商机。采用西方绘画技法的通草纸画盛行于十九世纪晚清时期的广州，由于绘画内容充满中国风情丶价格便宜且方便携带，而成为留驻口岸的欧美商人丶收藏者丶水手等人士极受欢迎的纪念品。小小的通草纸画，既有助缩小中西之间彼此理解的差距，同时也反映了西方人对这片异域的一种浪漫想像。

The Qing Dynasty of China was perceived as mysterious and beautiful in the eyes of Westerners. From the magnificent pleasure boats on the Pearl River to women with bound feet, all these sparked great curiosity among Europeans and Americans. These fantasies about China created a lucrative market for export paintings. Pith paper paintings, which adopted Western painting techniques, were prevalent in Guangzhou during the late Qing period in the 19th century. Due to their Chinese themes, affordable prices and portability, these paintings became popular souvenirs among European and American traders, collectors, and sailors residing at the port. These small pith paper paintings not only helped bridge the gap of mutual understanding between the East and the West, but also reflected the Westerners’ romantic imagination of this exotic land.