The Temple Palace, Medinet Haboo 1857

Francis Frith captured "The Temple Palace, Medinet Haboo" using the albumen print method, a popular photographic process in the 19th century. Frith was one of the first British photographers to document the Middle East, during a time when Europe was hungry for images of distant lands, and photography played a crucial role in shaping Western perceptions of foreign cultures. Look closely: the inclusion of a local figure with a donkey near the temple ruins situates the viewer as an outsider looking in. It highlights the dynamic between the Western gaze and the ‘exotic’ East. Consider that this image, while seemingly a straightforward documentation, also subtly reinforces the power dynamics inherent in colonial exploration and representation. It prompts us to reflect on whose stories are being told, and whose perspectives are centered. It stirs emotions and prompts reflection on the cultural and historical context of the scene.