Gezicht op de piramides van Gizeh met op de voorgrond hotel 'Mena House' c. 1886 - 1898

Editor: So this photograph, “View of the Pyramids of Giza with the Mena House Hotel in the Foreground,” by Maison Bonfils, likely taken between 1886 and 1898, is a gelatin silver print. I’m struck by the contrast – the timeless pyramids looming behind a clearly modern structure. How does that tension speak to you? Curator: That’s a great observation. I see it as a visual statement about cultural and economic power. The pyramids, ancient symbols of Egyptian authority, are now back-dropped by the Mena House Hotel, representing Western tourism and a new kind of influence. Editor: So, it's less about the pyramids themselves and more about how they are presented, or even *consumed*, by Westerners? Curator: Exactly! Consider when this photograph was taken: the late 19th century, a period of intense colonial activity. Photography itself became a tool for documenting and, arguably, possessing distant lands and cultures. What kind of narrative is created by placing these figures in the shot and the Hotel Mena in the background? Editor: A narrative of the Orient being looked upon and transformed by the West, perhaps? Almost like a staged, consumable experience? Curator: Precisely! The hotel provided a comfortable base for Western travelers, framing their experience of Egypt. This photo participates in that very act of framing. Do you notice the people sitting amongst the stones? Editor: Yes, they appear to be locals? Their presence, framed in this way, almost emphasizes a kind of subjugation or…staged exoticism. Curator: That’s insightful. They become part of the "authentic" experience sought by tourists. Consider, also, where this photograph might have been displayed or circulated – reinforcing a specific understanding of Egypt. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider the photograph not just as a representation, but as an active participant in a complex power dynamic. Thanks, I will definitely approach images like this with more consideration going forward! Curator: It has been my pleasure! I also have a deeper understanding from your insights!