Interieur van een moskee, mogelijk in Istanboel 1888 - 1900

Sébah and Joaillier’s photograph captures the interior of a mosque, possibly in Istanbul. The image presents a complex interplay between faith, representation, and cultural exchange. Made in the late 19th century, this photograph coincides with a period of intense Western interest in the ‘Orient’. It reflects the orientalist fascination with Islamic culture, viewed through a colonial lens. The photograph presents the mosque as an exotic, almost theatrical space, framed for Western consumption. The ornate decorations and the presence of religious symbols underline the ‘otherness’ of the scene, reinforcing cultural stereotypes. The photographer’s strategic use of light and shadow dramatizes the interior, enhancing its mysterious appeal. To fully understand such images, we need to consider the historical context: the expansion of European empires, the rise of ethnographic studies, and the popular appetite for orientalist imagery. This image, like many others, can be better understood through archival research, revealing its original purpose and reception.