Egyptische vrouw c. 1880 - 1920

This stereo card, titled 'Egyptische Vrouw', or 'Egyptian Woman', was created by an anonymous artist. These cards were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The photographic process allowed for a seemingly objective rendering of people and places around the world. During this era, the Western gaze often exoticized and romanticized non-Western cultures. The woman in the photograph is reclining, styled in a way that catered to European fantasies about the Orient. This approach often disregarded the complex realities of Egyptian society. The card reflects broader colonial power dynamics at play. It offered viewers an opportunity to consume a mediated, and often distorted, vision of a distant land and its inhabitants. It encouraged a sense of Western superiority and exoticism, while subtly reinforcing existing stereotypes. The image prompts us to reflect on the role of photography in constructing and perpetuating cultural narratives. It speaks to our engagement with the world and its peoples.