Dorp met palmen aan een water bij Caïro c. 1870 - 1898

Maison Bonfils captured this albumen print, 'Village with palms on a water near Cairo', in the late 19th century. This was a period when photography was increasingly used to document and, perhaps more problematically, to frame the East for Western audiences. Bonfils, a French photographer, established a studio in Beirut and produced thousands of images of the Middle East. These images were widely circulated as postcards and in travel albums, shaping perceptions of the region. The serene, almost romantic depiction of the village here contrasts sharply with the often harsh realities of colonial influence and social stratification. Who gets to frame whom, and why, are important questions to consider. Notice how the palms are neatly arranged, and the water is still, almost mirroring the scene above. Is this tranquility authentic, or is it a carefully constructed narrative designed to appeal to a specific gaze? Consider the power dynamics at play when viewing this image. How does it reflect or challenge our understanding of cultural exchange and representation?