Koperslagerswinkel in Caïro 1888 - 1895

Jean Pascal Sébah captured this photograph titled "Koperslagerswinkel in Caïro" at an unknown date, offering us a glimpse into a Cairo coppersmith's shop. Sébah's work exists within the complex history of Orientalism, where Western artists depicted the "Orient" through a lens that often exoticized and romanticized its cultures. Yet, as a photographer of Levantine heritage, Sébah occupied a unique position, challenging the traditional power dynamics of representation. The photo invites us to consider how class and labor are represented, with workers engaged in their craft. Consider the absence of women in the scene and what that might tell us about the gendered division of labor. Sébah’s photograph encourages a reflection on the intertwined nature of identity, representation, and cultural exchange during a period marked by colonial encounters.