Philae, gezien vanuit het zuiden before 1859

This albumen print of Philae, as seen from the south, was made by Francis Frith. Frith was one of the first British photographers to travel to the Middle East. Producing images during the height of the colonial era, photographers like Frith helped to shape European perceptions of foreign lands and peoples. Consider the aesthetics of this photo. The composition emphasizes the exotic nature of the scene. The clear, sharp details of the vegetation and architecture and the way the light is captured are meant to evoke a sense of authenticity and objective documentation, yet, this aesthetic also served to reinforce a sense of cultural and technological superiority. By studying Frith’s travelogues and the publishing history of such images, we can better understand the complex relationship between artistic representation and colonial power during this period. The meaning of this photograph is contingent on the social and institutional context.