Versierd feestterrein in Caïro c. 1870 - 1890

This albumen print, made by C. & G. Zangaki, captures a decorated festival ground in Cairo. The image presents a scene of public celebration, likely under the auspices of official authority. Cairo, during this period, was a city undergoing rapid modernization under British influence, yet retaining its traditional social structures. The Zangaki brothers, Greek photographers operating in Egypt, catered to the European fascination with Orientalist imagery. Their work often straddled the line between documentation and constructed scenes that reinforced colonial stereotypes. This particular image is a fascinating document of the way public festivals were staged and consumed, both by locals and the European gaze. What was the true nature of this event? Was it staged for the camera? Or was the camera capturing an authentic tradition? To understand this photograph, one must explore the visual codes of Orientalism and the socio-political context of colonial Egypt. Museum archives, historical societies, and libraries can provide the resources needed to uncover the complex relationship between art, power, and cultural representation.