Beelden van Osiris, Isis en een ander Egyptisch afgodsbeeld in het Boulaq Museum in Caïro, Egypte before 1871

This photograph by Hippolyte Délié depicts sculptures of Osiris, Isis, and another Egyptian deity within the Boulaq Museum in Cairo. The photograph, taken sometime in the 19th century, captures the growing European interest in Egyptology. The Boulaq Museum, established in 1858, was itself a product of this fascination, serving as both a repository for Egyptian antiquities and a symbol of colonial influence. Délié's photograph is part of a long history of Westerners documenting and interpreting Egyptian culture. The choice of subject matter – powerful religious figures – and the act of placing them within a museum context highlights the shift in how these objects were viewed: from sacred icons to artifacts for study and display. Understanding this photograph requires looking into travelogues, museum records, and colonial histories to fully understand its place within the complex dynamics between Europe and Egypt.