Façade Ouest de la Grande Pagode 1866

Emile Gsell made this albumen silver print of the West Façade of the Grand Pagoda in Angkor, Cambodia, at an unknown date. The image captures the grandeur of the temple complex, but it also documents the site's condition during a period of French colonial interest in Southeast Asia. Gsell's photograph is more than just a neutral record; it's a cultural artifact embedded within the history of colonialism. Consider how photography itself became a tool for cataloging and possessing distant lands. The 'ruins' in the image's title, may highlight a European perspective on the site, framing it as a discovery awaiting Western eyes. To understand this photograph fully, we must consider the institutional history of archaeology, the politics of cultural heritage, and the role of photography in constructing colonial narratives. Research into travelogues, colonial archives, and the history of Angkor can shed light on the complex exchange between the photographer, the photographed, and the audience.