Groep Ouled Naïl mensen in Algerije c. 1863 - 1900

This photograph shows a group of Ouled Naïl people in Algeria, and was taken by Neurdein Frères, though we don't know exactly when. In the 19th century, European photographers flocked to North Africa, often framing their subjects through the lens of Orientalism. The image presents the Ouled Naïl, an Algerian community, who were known for their traditions of female dancers and sex workers. It’s difficult to know how they were impacted by French colonial rule. What’s clear is that gender, sexuality, and cultural identity intersect in complex ways here. While the photograph could be seen to perpetuate stereotypes, it also captures a moment of cultural expression, and the ways the Ouled Naïl performed their identities in a changing world. These images can elicit feelings of unease, as they bring to the surface questions about representation, agency, and the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking.