19th-century paintings bring old Ningbo to life

A poster for the exhibition. [Photo/Yongpai App]

A special exhibition featuring 19th-century Ningbo export paintings will open at the Ningbobang Museum on July 1, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the city's vibrant past through artworks that have returned from Germany after more than a century.

The exhibition, titled "Glimpse and Resonance: Scenes of Eastern Life in 19th-Century Ningbo Export Paintings", is jointly organized by the Ningbo Museum, Zhejiang Wanli University, and the Dresden State Art Collections and will run until Nov 1.

Created in Ningbo workshops during the 19th century, these export paintings vividly capture the city's everyday life, bustling streets, traditional crafts, and local customs. After traveling overseas, the collection has been preserved in a German museum for more than 50 years before making its long-awaited return.

Among the highlights is Illustrations of Ningbo's 360 Trades, a remarkable work that documents the city's diverse occupations and street scenes from over 100 years ago. Today, it serves as an invaluable archive for understanding Ningbo's social history.

Combining original paintings, immersive displays, and interactive experiences, the exhibition recreates the atmosphere of 19th-century Ningbo while exploring cultural exchanges between China and the West.

Paintings ready to be displayed at the exhibition. [Photo/Yongpai App]