Kolossen van Memnon before 1862

This photograph of the Colossi of Memnon was made by Francis Frith, likely in the 1850s, as part of his documentation of Egypt. Beyond its depiction of the statues, the image tells us a lot about the way ancient monuments were being understood and consumed in the 19th century. Frith was one of the first photographers to gain commercial success, mass producing his images for a growing market of tourists and armchair travelers. The choice of subject, the framing, and even the printing process all speak to a fascination with the scale and grandeur of ancient civilizations. These photographs helped to fuel a sense of European superiority and entitlement, positioning the West as the rightful heir to the legacies of the past. To understand this image better, we might look at Frith's business records, travel accounts from the period, and studies of the history of photography. By examining these sources, we can gain a richer understanding of the social and cultural forces that shaped not only the image itself, but also its reception and meaning.