Gezicht op de haven van Algiers, Algerije before 1893

Jules Gervais-Courtellemont captured this photograph of the harbor of Algiers, Algeria, sometime between 1863 and 1931. As a French orientalist painter and photographer, Gervais-Courtellemont took a keen interest in documenting the landscapes and cultures of North Africa and the Middle East. This photograph, while seemingly a simple landscape, is pregnant with the complex history of French colonialism in Algeria. In the 19th century, Algeria was a prized colony of France, viewed as both a strategic asset and a source of exotic fascination. Orientalist artists like Gervais-Courtellemont played a role in constructing and perpetuating these perceptions, often depicting the region as a land of picturesque beauty, but overlooking the social and political realities of colonial rule. While the image itself may appear neutral, it’s important to consider the power dynamics at play. The very act of photographing Algiers was an assertion of French presence and control. Look closely: what is included, and what is left out? How does this image contribute to the broader narrative of colonialism and cultural representation?