Theologiestudenten in de Al-Azhar-moskee in Caïro 1898

Johannes Lodewijk Heldring made this albumen print depicting theology students in the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, at some point in his lifetime, which stretched from 1852 to 1923. The image presents us with a bird's-eye view of the mosque's courtyard filled with individuals, presumably students, engaged in study or contemplation. Heldring’s photograph offers a glimpse into the academic and religious life of Cairo at the time. Considered through a social and institutional lens, this photograph speaks volumes about the cultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Al-Azhar University, associated with the mosque, was one of the oldest degree-granting universities in the world. The presence of a European photographer like Heldring documenting such a space invites questions about Orientalism, colonialism, and the Western gaze. Further research into Heldring's biography, the history of Al-Azhar University, and the socio-political context of Egypt under British influence would give us more insight into the complex dynamics captured in this image.