WONDERS OF CHINA

Beijing, the Great Wall, Shanghai, Xi'an & Hong Kong • 2013

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City, Beijing — Imperial Rooftops in the Mist (Sepia)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Imperial Rooftops in the Mist (Sepia)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City, Beijing — Imperial Rooftops at Dawn (Color)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Imperial Rooftops at Dawn (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Great Wall of China — Ascending Stone Ramparts (Black & White)

Great Wall of China — The Ascending Stone Ramparts (Black & White)

William Curtis Rolf: Great Wall of China — Atmospheric Mountain Landscape (Color)

Great Wall of China — Mountain Ridges in Atmospheric Light (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City, Beijing — Imperial Rooflines in Symmetry (Color)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Imperial Rooflines in Symmetry (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Great Wall of China — Stone Walkway Through the Mountains (Color)

Great Wall of China — The Stone Walkway Through the Mountains (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Xi'an Terracotta Army — Imperial Warrior Formation (Color)

Xi'an, China — Terracotta Army: An Imperial Formation (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Beijing Neighborhood Street Life — A Passing Moment (Sepia)

Beijing, China — Neighborhood Street Life: A Passing Moment (Sepia)

William Curtis Rolf: Prince Gong's Mansion, Beijing — Ornamental Courtyard (Color)

Prince Gong's Mansion, Beijing, China — Ornamental Eaves & Courtyard Architecture (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Beijing Cycle Rickshaws — A Rhythm of Red & Green (Color)

Beijing, China — Cycle Rickshaws: A Rhythm of Red & Green (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City Corner Tower & Moat Reflections (Sepia)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Imperial Corner Tower & Moat Reflections (Sepia)

William Curtis Rolf: Shanghai Pudong Skyline & Oriental Pearl Tower at Night (Color)

Shanghai, China — Pudong Skyline: Illuminated Towers Above the Huangpu River (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Shanghai Pudong Skyline from the Bund (Black & White)

Shanghai, China — Pudong Skyline: Towers Beneath a Dramatic Sky (Black & White)

William Curtis Rolf: Prince Gong's Mansion, Beijing — Qing Dynasty Heritage (Sepia Burgundy)

Prince Gong's Mansion, Beijing, China — A Glimpse of Qing Dynasty Tradition (Sepia Burgundy)

William Curtis Rolf: Beijing Traditional Shopfronts & Modern Architecture (Sepia)

Beijing, China — Traditional Shopfronts Beneath a Modern Façade (Sepia)

William Curtis Rolf: Xi'an Neighborhood Street Scene Beneath the Trees (Black & White)

Xi'an, China — Beneath the Ancient Trees: A Neighborhood Street Scene (Black & White)

William Curtis Rolf: Prince Gong's Mansion — Guardian Lions & Courtyard Entrance (Black & White)

Prince Gong's Mansion, Beijing, China — Guardian Lions at the Courtyard Threshold (Black & White)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City Corner Tower & Imperial Moat (Black & White)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Corner Tower: Reflections in the Imperial Moat (Black & White)

William Curtis Rolf: Xi'an Terracotta Army — Three Qin Dynasty Warriors (Sepia)

Xi'an, China — Terracotta Army: Three Warriors of the Qin Dynasty (Sepia)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City, Beijing — Imperial Rooflines (Black & White)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Imperial Rooflines in Perspective (Black & White)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City Corner Tower, Beijing — Waterside View (Color)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Corner Tower: Imperial Rooflines & Waterside Perspective (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City, Beijing — Imperial Rooftops in Morning Haze (Color)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Imperial Rooftops in the Morning Haze (Color)

William Curtis Rolf: Forbidden City — Imperial Roof Tiles & Architectural Ornament (Black & White)

Forbidden City, Beijing, China — Interlocking Rooflines & Imperial Ornamentation (Black & White)

Wonders of China: Archival Landscape & Architectural Studies

Spanning the imperial architecture of Beijing, the Great Wall's mountainous landscapes, the ancient Terracotta Army of Xi'an, and Shanghai's contemporary skyline, William Curtis Rolf's Wonders of China collection reveals a country of extraordinary architectural achievement, cultural continuity, and visual contrasts.

Photographed in 2013 with the assistance of private local guides, the series reflects Rolf's considered approach to perspective, natural light, and architectural form. From the intricate rooflines of the Forbidden City and the sculptural individuality of Xi'an's terracotta warriors to the geometric silhouettes of Shanghai's skyscrapers, each composition offers a distinct interpretation of its subject. Atmospheric mountain studies evoke the spirit of traditional Shan Shui (mountain-water) painting, while candid street scenes capture the movement, color, and everyday character of Chinese urban life.

Grand-scale archival prints from the collection are held in private collections internationally. Our studio works closely with architects, interior designers, and art consultants to develop custom exhibition-scale presentations, tailored dimensions, and trade pricing for residential and hospitality projects.