José NICOLAS (1956) - Lot 381

José NICOLAS (1956) China at the gates of Hong Kong, 1984 Silver print On back, signed, dated, titled, numbered 1/8 Dimensions: 30 x 40 cm Note: In this 1984 photograph, José Nicolas documents a street scene in China, on the outskirts of Hong Kong, marked by informal daily activity. Vendors offer fruit and wares on the sidewalk, set against a backdrop of rubble and modern buildings in the background. The contrast between the construction site and the houses underlines a period of urban transformation, where traditional economy and rapid development coexist. The figures, motionless or waiting, give the scene an almost suspended social dimension. The frontal framing and wealth of detail give the image a documentary approach. The use of black and white enhances the reading of textures and contrasts, making this work a testimony to the economic and human mutations of China in the 1980s.