Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22

Edward Wilson Currier
Chinatown, San Francisco

1903

$3,430.05
£2,500
€2,950.47
CA$4,753.43
A$5,299.16
CHF 2,763.73
MX$64,079.11
NOK 34,741.43
SEK 32,872.34
DKK 22,022.23

About the Item

'Chinatown, San Francisco', gouache on fine art paper, by Edward Wilson Currier (1903). Spofford Alley in San Francisco's Chinatown is best known for an address (number 36) where Dr. Sun Yat-Sen plotted the overthrow of China's last dynasty. During Prohibition, it was the site of turf battles over local bootlegging and protection rackets. Today it is lined with seniors' community centres. However, the quiet alley livens up in the evenings when a Chinese orchestra strikes up a tune, mah-jongg games begin with a cascade of clicking tiles, and barbers and florists use the pretence of sweeping their doorsteps to gossip. In this artist's depiction, a man smokes a long-stemmed Chinese pipe under the awning and colourful lanterns hanging from the wooden supports while a child looks on. The artwork is interesting from several standpoints including architectural, cultural and historical. Shortly after this work was painted, the neighbourhood was completely destroyed in the 1906 earthquake that levelled most of the city. From 1910 to 1940, Chinese immigrants were detained at the Angel Island immigration station in the San Francisco Bay. To be permitted entry to the United States, thousands of mostly Chinese immigrants crossing the Pacific to San Francisco had to enter through the gauntlet of Angel Island, and were detained for months in a purgatory of isolation. E.W. Currier painted several works in Chinatown from the beginning of the century until about 1915. The artwork is in good vintage condition and has been newly framed and glazed with museum quality glass (anti-reflective and UV protective). See this listing's accompanying photos to appreciate its condition and aesthetic qualities. We have also included images from the original backing of the painting for your enjoyment. It is signed and dated in the lower right hand corner of the painting: 'E.W. Currier 1903'. Upon request a video of the work may be provided. About the Artist: Edward Wilson Currier (1857–1918) was an American painter born in Marietta, Ohio. He was educated at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and opened a studio in San Francisco, California. He is best known for his oil and watercolour paintings of landscapes, still lifes and maritime scenes. Dimensions with Frame: H 47.0 cm / 18.5" W 39.0 cm / 15.4" Dimensions without Frame: H 28.5 cm / 11.2" W 21.0 cm / 8.3"
  • Creator:
    Edward Wilson Currier (1857 - 1918, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1903
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)Width: 15.36 in (39 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 08781stDibs: LU61736454372

More From This Seller

View All
'Chinatown San Francisco at Twilight', French School (circa 1950s)
Located in London, GB
'Chinatown San Francisco at Twilight', ink and gouache, diptych on card stock, French School (circa 1950s). This artwork was discovered in Paris, France. The unnamed artist skilfully captured that magical moment at dusk when light is at its most beautiful. The scene is Chinatown, San Francisco in the 1950s. The Far East Café, depicted in this artwork was established in 1920. It is the oldest banquet-style Chinese restaurant in the city. Of course, Chinese cuisine in large cities in America has since moved on from the chop suey...
Category

Mid-20th Century Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Gouache

Parisian Street Scene
By Roland Dubuc
Located in London, GB
'Parisian Street Scene', watercolour on art paper, by Roland DuBuc (circa 1970s). This artwork is a delightful depiction of a Parisian street which scales the hill to the neighbourhood of Montmartre, the home of the basilica of Sacré-Cœur. DuBuc's artworks serve as a love letter to the city of Paris and are recognised by his incredibly charming style. The signed artwork is in good overall condition and has been newly framed with anti-reflective glass. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request a video of the piece may be provided. About the Artist: Roland DuBuc (1924-1998), French artist, the sixth of 13 children and son of a construction worker. The very precariousness of the family's financial situation forced him to go to work at the age of 14. In extreme poverty, he moved to Rouen where he was lodged by the Salvation Army. During that time he struck up friendships with several artists who gave him advice and taught him techniques of drawing. He moved to other cities later where he met painters including, among others, Fred Pailhès...
Category

1970s Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

'Cherry Blossoms in Japan', French School
Located in London, GB
'Cherry Blossoms in Japan', pencil, ink and gouache on card stock, French School (Mid 20th Century). Cherry blossoms (Sakura) symbolise springtime, a time of renewal and the fleeting...
Category

Mid-20th Century Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Gouache, Pencil

Chez Maxim's
By André Meurice
Located in London, GB
'Chez Maxim's', pastel and gouache on fine art paper, by André Meurice (circa 1950s - 60s). The artist depicts the glamorous clientele at the entryway to...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Nouveau Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pastel, Gouache

The Port of Le Havre
By Fred Pailhès
Located in London, GB
'The Port of Le Havre', pencil on art paper, by French artist Fred Pailhès (circa 1950s). Le Havre was only a fishing village until 1517, when Francis I h...
Category

1950s Expressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

View of Saint-Médard Church Paris
By Lucien Génin
Located in London, GB
A 'View of Saint-Médard Church, Paris', gouache on art paper, by Lucien Génin (circa 1930s). As viewed from the Rue Mouffetard, the church, which dates from the mid-1400s, continues ...
Category

1930s Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Gouache

You May Also Like

Chinatown, San Francisco
By Sun Ying
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Chinatown, San Francisco" c.1975 is a watercolor on paper by noted Chinese/American artist Sun Ying, 1919-2016. It is hand signed at the lower left corner by the artist, stamped with the artist red ink stamp at the lower right corner. The artwork size is 15 x 22 inches, framed is 27 x 33.5 inches. It is beautifully custom framed in a wooden gold frame, with gold color spacer and fabric matting. It is in excellent condition. About the artist. 1919 Sun Ying 孙瑛 ( 1919-2016 ) known as (Sun Dashi 大石) was born on November 8, in a poor family, in Gaotang Xian, Shandong Province, in China. 1949 Based in Taipei, he devoted himself entirely to painting and influenced the world of art by creating several painting societies as the Chinese Association of Ink Painting . Taiwan awarded him the Golden Cup Award. 1960 / 1970 He exhibited his works in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Malaysia and United States. 1974 He went to live in the United States. 1982 After a visit to his family, he returned to China. 1984 With Qi Baishi...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

China Town San Francisco 1896 - Watercolor on Paper
By Theodore Ernest Langguth
Located in Soquel, CA
China Town San Francisco 1896 - Watercolor on Paper A vintage watercolor by Theodore Ernest Langguth (German-American, 1861-1952). Presented in a rustic giltwood frame. Signed "T. Langguth" lower right. Watercolor circa 1920-30. Image: 12.5"H x 8.5"W. Painted from the photograph by Arnold Genthe...
Category

1910s American Impressionist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Pencil

Chinatown, Impressionist Watercolor by Eve Nethercott
By Eve Nethercott
Located in Long Island City, NY
Eve Nethercott, American (1925 - 2015) - Chinatown (P4.22), Year: 1961, Medium: Watercolor on Paper, Size: 13.5 x 20.5 in. (34.29 x 52.07 cm), Description: Eve Nethercott's s...
Category

1960s Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

A Street Scene in the Chinese Quarter of San Francisco Published in 1870
Located in Langweer, NL
A Street Scene in the Chinese Quarter of San Francisco- Published in The Days' Doings, November 26, 1870. Description: This hand-colored engraving, published in *The Days' Doings* on November 26, 1870, presents a vibrant and detailed view of daily life in the Chinese Quarter (Chinatown) of San Francisco during the late 19th century. The scene captures the bustling atmosphere of a narrow street, lined with wooden buildings, hanging laundry, and small businesses serving the local Chinese community. The foreground features a man carrying two large baskets of produce, balanced on a pole over his shoulders. Behind him, people are seen engaging in various activities—gathering in groups, walking along the street, and conversing on balconies. A wooden sign reading "Tong Wo Doctor" can be seen on the left, advertising a local Chinese medicine shop, while another sign for "Sam Lee, Sam Sing" is displayed above a bridge-like structure connecting two buildings. The narrow street, laundry lines, and multi-story wooden buildings with balconies give the scene a distinctly urban and immigrant quarter feel, reflecting the growing Chinese immigrant community in San Francisco during this time. The engraving captures both the vibrant energy of this neighborhood and the cultural exchanges occurring in the rapidly expanding city. About the Publication and Technique: *The Days' Doings* was a weekly illustrated newspaper that ran from 1870 to 1879, known for its sensationalist coverage of crime, scandals, and interesting stories from both America and Europe. It often depicted lively scenes from everyday life, such as this portrayal of San Francisco’s Chinatown, providing its audience with visual glimpses into different facets of society. The engraving is produced using a wood engraving technique, where an image is carved into a block of wood for printing. Afterward, the image was hand-colored to add vibrancy to the bustling street scene. These prints were then mass-produced and circulated widely through publications like *The Days' Doings*. --- Keywords: San Francisco Chinatown 1870, Chinese Quarter San Francisco, *The Days' Doings* November 26, 1870, Chinese immigrant life 19th century, hand-colored wood engraving, Chinatown street scene engraving, Tong Wo Doctor, Sam Lee Sam Sing, 19th-century San Francisco prints...
Category

Antique 1870s Prints

Materials

Paper

"Showers Today" San Francisco's Chinatown on an Overcast Day Original Watercolor
Located in Soquel, CA
"Showers Today" San Francisco's Chinatown on an Overcast Day Original Watercolor A two sided watercolor on Arches paper by San Francisco and Maryland artist Harolod Gretzner (America...
Category

1970s American Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper

China Town, London, Max Panks, Original Impressionist Watercolour Painting
Located in Deddington, GB
China Town, London By Max Panks [2021] original Watercolour on Paper Image size: H:37 cm x W:28 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:41 cm x W:31 cm x D:0...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Water...

Materials

Paper, Watercolor