Gezicht op het paleis van de onderkoning van Egypte in Ismaïlia met op de voorgrond hengelaars c. 1870 - 1891

This albumen print shows the palace of the Khedive of Egypt in Ismailia. In this photograph, we see not just a building but a representation of power and its relationship to the everyday life of the citizens of Egypt. The palace, a symbol of authority, stands in the background, while in the foreground, local fishermen are sitting by the canal. The image was made during a time of significant political and economic change in Egypt. The construction of the Suez Canal was transforming the country. This photograph speaks to the visual codes of imperialism, where the lives of ordinary people are framed by the symbols of power and progress. To truly understand this image, we need to examine it through the lens of social and institutional history. By consulting archives and historical records, we can gain insight into the complex power dynamics that shaped this pivotal moment in Egypt's history.