Street Scene near the El Ghouri Mosque in Cairo (detail) 1875

This is a detail of *Street Scene near the El Ghouri Mosque in Cairo,* painted by John Frederick Lewis. Lewis belonged to a generation of British Orientalist painters, who represented the ‘East’ for a European audience. Lewis spent over a decade in Cairo. During this period, the city's cultural richness coexisted with the realities of British colonialism. This painting offers a glimpse into the complexities of cultural exchange and representation during this era. We see men in traditional attire, their faces etched with character, engaging in everyday activities. The artist’s detailed rendering invites viewers into the scene, but it also presents a constructed view of the ‘Orient’ through a European lens. How does Lewis navigate his identity as a Western artist portraying a culture vastly different from his own? The emotional depth of the figures is palpable, yet the colonial context cannot be ignored. The painting challenges us to consider the power dynamics inherent in cross-cultural representation.