Gang tussen de tempel van Horus en de buitenmuur, Edfu 1888 - 1895

This photograph of the corridor between the temple of Horus and the outer wall in Edfu, Egypt was taken by Jean Pascal Sébah at an unknown date. Sébah was part of a family of photographers working in Istanbul and Egypt during the late Ottoman Empire, a period defined by burgeoning European interest in the “Orient.” This image captures the visual aesthetics of early archaeological documentation, revealing not only the physical space, but also the cultural dynamics at play. The photograph invites us to consider the relationship between the photographer, the photographed space, and the viewer, all within the context of colonial power structures. Sébah, as a photographer of Levantine-European heritage, occupied a unique position, navigating between cultures. The photograph itself is a study in contrasts, between light and shadow, the intimate corridor and the vast history held within the temple walls. It serves as a poignant reminder of the layers of history, identity, and representation that shape our understanding of the past.