Sculptuur van Nebo, sculptuur van een torso van een vrouw en een sculptuur van Assournazirpai before 1885

This is a photographic print by Jane Dieulafoy, capturing sculptures of Nebo, a woman's torso, and Assournazirpal. Dieulafoy, a 19th-century French archaeologist and novelist, defied the conventions of her time through her active participation in archaeological expeditions alongside her husband, Marcel. These photographs are from her expeditions to Persia. Her work challenged traditional gender roles in academia and exploration. The inclusion of a woman's torso alongside depictions of male figures like Nebo and Assournazirpal invites us to think about the representation and treatment of gender within historical narratives. As Dieulafoy meticulously documented these findings, her own experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field must have influenced her perspective. Her unique position allowed her to develop alternative narratives that acknowledged the diverse roles of women in history. Dieulafoy said, “I dress and act like a man. I don’t see how I could have done otherwise.” The photographs remind us to question the power structures that shape our understanding of the past.