The Great Pyramid, Giza 1830s

"The Great Pyramid, Giza" was painted by Adrien Dauzats in the 19th century, using oil on canvas. This work emerges from a period of intense European interest in Egypt, fueled by archaeological discoveries and colonial ambitions. Dauzats presents the pyramid as a site of sublime grandeur, yet notice the small figures scaling its monumental form. These figures, dwarfed by the pyramid’s scale, might evoke a sense of human endeavor against the backdrop of ancient history. But I would ask you to consider, whose endeavor are we really seeing? Dauzats' painting reflects the romanticized, often orientalist, view of Egypt prevalent in European art. It invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in such representations, where the cultural heritage of one civilization becomes a spectacle viewed through the lens of another. What stories get told, and whose voices are amplified or silenced in the process? This painting encapsulates an era of exploration, but also one of cultural appropriation, leaving us to consider its complex legacy.