Gezicht op Caïro bij de wijk Mokkatam met stadsmuren en moskee before 1905

This photograph, "Gezicht op Caïro bij de wijk Mokkatam met stadsmuren en moskee," shows a view of Cairo, taken by Maison Bonfils. The sepia tones give it that classic, old-world feel, like flipping through a well-loved history book. The image is all about texture, from the craggy walls to the smooth domes of the mosque. Look at the way the light catches on those city walls. It's almost like the photograph itself is a kind of archaeological dig, unearthing layers of time and history. The tones are all quite similar, like a faded memory or a dream. Now, my eye is drawn to that little cluster of buildings near the bottom. They look almost like a child’s building blocks. Maybe this is a reference to Eugène Atget, who captured Paris with a similar eye for the ordinary, finding beauty in the everyday. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is really an ongoing conversation.