Architecture : colonne de la salle hypostyle de Karnac (Thèbes - XIXe dynastie) 1878

Émile Prisse d’Avennes made this print of a column in the hypostyle hall of Karnak, Thebes, using lithography sometime in the 19th century. Its rendering of ancient Egyptian architecture speaks to the European fascination with Egypt during that period, and reveals the cultural and political context in which such images were produced and consumed. This print offers a detailed view of the column’s capital, decorated with stylized lotus flowers and hieroglyphs. We see the influence of ancient Egyptian culture on European art and architecture. The use of lithography allowed for the mass production of such images, making them accessible to a wider audience and contributing to the spread of Egyptomania. The print also reflects the power dynamics of the time, with European artists and scholars appropriating and reinterpreting Egyptian culture for their own purposes. Careful archival research might reveal the specific motivations and intentions behind its creation, shedding light on the complex interplay between art, culture, and power in the 19th century.