Bas-reliëf van het tempelcomplex van Dendera c. 1870 - 1890

This photographic print from the Maison Bonfils captures a bas-relief at the temple complex of Dendera. It's a direct, unvarnished record of an ancient artwork, made with the nineteenth-century technology of chemical photography. The process involves coating a surface with light-sensitive chemicals and exposing it to the scene. The result captures a monumental stone carving - a low relief with hieroglyphs and figures that have a remarkable presence. The image flattens the sculpture, losing some of its tactile qualities. Yet, it also makes the relief accessible in a new way, as a portable image. Consider the labor involved, both in the original carving and in the photographic reproduction. The ancient artisans would have used chisels and a range of tools to slowly cut away at the stone, while the photographers traveled with cumbersome equipment to document it. This print isn't just an image; it's a document of a cultural artifact, made possible by the technologies and social conditions of its time. It prompts us to reflect on the layers of craftsmanship and industry that connect the ancient world to our own.