Portret van een onbekende Arabische leider 1863 - 1889

This photographic print of an unknown Arab leader was produced by Famin et Cie. It's a carte-de-visite, a type of small photograph which became a global phenomenon in the mid-19th century. The photographic process itself has social significance. Before photography, portraiture was the domain of the wealthy, but the carte-de-visite democratized image-making, making it accessible to a wider public. The tonal range, a hallmark of early photography, gives the leader's garments a tactile quality. You can almost feel the weight of his cloak. Similarly, the ornate furniture beside him, likely a studio prop, hints at the exoticism Western audiences associated with the Arab world. The making of this object involved both the photographer and the sitter. The leader's pose and attire speak to his status, while the photographer's skill captures and conveys this image to a broader audience. Consider photography’s role in shaping perceptions of different cultures during a period of increasing global exchange. It makes you wonder, who was this leader, and what was the nature of his encounter with the Western image-makers?