Icons and Beauties, an ongoing photo exhibition at Christie’s Shanghai gallery, takes viewers on a journey through the lens of time.

It teams up a dozen prominent 20th-century photographers, whose works on show mix sensuality and aesthetics. The big names include Henri Cartier-Bresson, Harry Callahan and Hiroshi Sugimoto. In a way, the display helps people understand the evolution of photography and its role in shaping aesthetics.

The exhibits feature portraits of women representing avant-garde tendencies from parts of the last century, as well as images of iconic artists such as Spanish master Pablo Picasso.