Djîzeh (Nécropole de Memphis), Pyramide de Chéphren 1851 - 1852

Félix Teynard captured the Pyramid of Chephren within the necropolis of Giza using a calotype, an early photographic process, sometime in the mid-19th century. Teynard, a French engineer and photographer, embarked on a photographic survey of Egypt during a period of intense European interest in ancient civilizations. In this photograph, the pyramid looms, its massive scale and geometric form rendered with a stark, almost alien beauty. Photography at this time was as much about scientific documentation as it was about art. Teynard’s photograph invites us to consider the complex intersections of power, knowledge, and representation inherent in the colonial gaze. Consider the labor and lives of those who built these monuments and whose stories are often marginalized in favor of narratives of pharaohs and empires. What does it mean to look at this pyramid through the lens of 19th-century colonialism, and how does that gaze shape our understanding of ancient Egypt? The emotional weight of this photograph lies in its ability to evoke a sense of awe and historical reflection.