Gezicht op het zuidelijk deel van de necropolis in Caïro before 1862

This photograph of the southern necropolis in Cairo was captured by Francis Frith, a British photographer, during one of his several expeditions to the Middle East in the 1850s. Frith's photographs, while celebrated for their technical skill, also reflect the complex power dynamics of the time. As a European capturing images of a non-Western land, his work is imbued with the perspective of an outsider, framing Egypt as both exotic and timeless. The inclusion of local people as small, almost anonymous figures in the landscape, reinforces a narrative of Western exploration and dominance. However, the image also invites us to reflect on the shared human experience of mortality. The juxtaposition of the ancient tombs with the daily life of Cairo's inhabitants creates a poignant commentary on the passage of time and the enduring presence of history. It is a scene of everyday life lived in the presence of death.