Kalabscheh, Sculptures De La Façade Postérieure Du Temple; Nubie Possibly 1849 - 1852

This photograph of the Kalabscheh temple carvings in Nubia was taken by Maxime Du Camp in the mid-19th century. Du Camp was part of a wave of European travelers who sought to document and, in many ways, claim ownership over ancient Egyptian culture. Here, the stone carvings are presented through the lens of early photography, a technology then still in its infancy. This image, like many from that era, reflects a colonial gaze, framing the Nubian and Egyptian heritage through a Western perspective. The figures, rendered in stone, carry the weight of centuries and the complex narratives of their time. The photograph captures not just the physical presence of the carvings but also the act of cultural interpretation and possession inherent in its creation and circulation. Du Camp’s work prompts us to consider the power dynamics involved in seeing and documenting cultures, and the ways in which photography can both preserve and appropriate history.