Arabische sjeiks op de weg van Baalbek naar Muallaka, voormalig Syrië before 1899

This photograph, taken by Augusta Victoria, the Empress of Germany, captures a group of Arab sheiks on the road between Baalbek and Muallaka in what was formerly Syria. The image is a window into the complex social and political dynamics of the early 20th century. Augusta Victoria's presence in the region, and her focus on photographing local leaders, speaks to the intersection of European imperial interests and the existing social structures of the Arab world. The photograph creates meaning through its depiction of local leaders, in what we now call Lebanon, and how their image was mediated through the lens of a European royal. Understanding this photograph requires us to delve into the history of European colonialism, the social hierarchy of the Ottoman Empire, and the role of photography in shaping perceptions of the "Orient." By researching sources from the time, we can understand the social and institutional forces that shaped the making and interpretation of this image.