In this painting, a Chinese man is shown holding up a delicate western lady’s shoe. The Chinese ladies are laughing because the shoe is so large compared with shoes for their own tiny feet. Small feet were considered a sign of beauty in China, and women bound their feet to make them as small as possible.

Hodgson was born in London, but spent his childhood in Russia. He painted historical scenes until he travelled to Africa in 1868. He visited Tunis, Tangier, Algiers and Morocco; and from that time almost all of his paintings feature scenes of African life.

Provenance: On loan from the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: John Evan Hodgson (1831-1895)
Date: 1868

Image Details
Date: 20 April 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 640
Licensing: Image of a Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens asset. This image cannot be licensed.