Caitlin Todd

The Opium War

Painting
2020
Gouache
Britain began by paying for Chinese tea with silver but, eventually they felt it to be too expensive. It was then that opium was introduced to China, this led to a public health crisis. In 1839, a Chinese official ordered the destruction of massive British shipments of opium which triggered the first opium war between the two nations.

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The Opium War
The Opium War

Work by

Caitlin Todd

Illustration

““Steeped Through Centuries” illustrates the influential impact of tea on various historical and cultural developments. Exploring the way tea, since its discovery, has been an ever present ingredient...” [More]