Untitled [Bishari from the Sudan] c. 19th century

Hippolyte Arnoux made this photograph, "Untitled [Bishari from the Sudan]", in the latter half of the 19th century. It's a constructed image, not an unmediated record. Arnoux worked in Egypt, and this image reflects the visual codes of European Orientalism – a staged and romanticized vision of the East. Note how the backdrop suggests an exotic, tropical locale, while the men are posed with weaponry and traditional clothing. Such elements tap into European fantasies about the region, and it conveniently elides the growing political and economic control exerted by European powers. We should think about this photograph in relation to other visual representations of the region at the time, and the social conditions that made them possible. European colonialism created an uneven power dynamic. Photographs like this were often used to reinforce this by creating an idea of inherent difference. Understanding the role of photography within colonial projects is essential to a critical art history. To do this we must consider the intentions of the artist, the cultural context of its creation, and the image’s circulation.