Arabische wijk in Port Said c. 1889 - 1920

This photochrom print of an Arab district in Port Said presents a captivating snapshot of daily life. The anonymous photographer captured this vibrant scene using a process that merges photography with color printing, a technique that was quite innovative at the time. The material qualities of this print influence how we experience the image. The photochrom process lends a soft, almost painterly quality to the scene, enhancing the textures of the buildings and clothing. The lively market and the figures populating it reflect a society bustling with commerce and community. This image hints at the amount of work involved in producing it and the labor that sustains the district. By focusing on the materials and processes behind this image, and by considering the social and economic context it captures, we can appreciate it on multiple levels, not just as a picturesque scene, but as a document of a specific time, place, and way of life.