Hypostyle Hall c. 19th century

Antonio Beato captured this image of the Hypostyle Hall, using a photographic process that was popular in the 19th century. Beato, an Italian-British photographer, documented the landscapes and people of the Mediterranean, Crimea, and the Middle East. This photograph serves as a window into the colonial gaze of the period. Beato's work, while visually stunning, also participated in the common practice of exoticizing non-Western cultures. He frames the ancient architecture as a timeless backdrop for the local population. The inclusion of people, along with their livestock, gives scale to the immense columns, but it also subtly implies a kind of ownership or stewardship. The emotional impact for viewers then and now is complex – we are invited to marvel at the grandeur of the past and reflect on the present and future. Ultimately, this image invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of documentation and representation, urging us to reflect on whose stories are told and how.