Gezicht op de Piramides van Gizeh Possibly 1912

Philip Zilcken etched this view of the pyramids at Giza. This image is a product of its time, a period when European artists and intellectuals were fascinated by Egypt, but it also shows the gaze of colonialism. Egypt was under British control, and images like this helped shape European perceptions of the country as exotic, ancient, and ripe for exploration and exploitation. Consider how the pyramids are presented. They're monumental, but also distant, part of a landscape to be surveyed. The small figures in the foreground emphasize the scale of the pyramids, but also perhaps the insignificance of the local population in this grand historical narrative. Zilcken's etching participates in a long tradition of European artists representing Egypt through their own cultural lens. To fully understand this image, one might research the history of European Orientalism and the role of art in shaping colonial attitudes. By examining travelogues, photographs, and other visual materials from the period, we can gain a deeper appreciation.