Haute-Égypte. Entrée de la première Cataracte 1850

This is Maxime Du Camp's photograph, "Haute-Égypte. Entrée de la première Cataracte." Du Camp, a 19th-century French writer and photographer, was a member of the privileged class. This photograph of Egypt was produced during a time of European colonial expansion, and reflects the power dynamics inherent in such a project. In the mid-19th century, photography was more than a tool for documentation; it was a medium through which the Western gaze was imposed on the East. As you look at this landscape, consider the choices Du Camp made—what he chose to include and exclude. While the image appears to be a straightforward depiction of the Egyptian landscape, it’s important to think about the perspective it offers—one shaped by European interests and assumptions. It invites us to consider the relationship between the photographer, the subject, and the viewer, and how photography can shape our understanding of different cultures.