Dok bij het Suezkanaal 1870 - 1910

This photograph, "Dock at the Suez Canal," was taken by C. & G. Zangaki. The image presents us with a tranquil scene, but it's vital to remember the history of the canal itself. Completed in 1869, it drastically shortened trade routes between Europe and Asia, reshaping global commerce and solidifying European colonial power in Egypt. C. & G. Zangaki were Greek photographers who documented Egypt during a period of intense colonial interest. While they catered to European tastes, the Zangaki brothers were also local merchants who lived and worked in Egypt, making their position complex. How does this photograph reflect the power dynamics inherent in this landscape? The ships, symbols of trade and power, quietly loom in the background. The photograph acts as a stark reminder of the intricate relationships between landscape, power, and representation.