Portret van een appelverkoper met gesluierde klanten in Egypte c. 1870 - 1891

"Portret van een appelverkoper met gesluierde klanten in Egypte" (c. 1870-1891) by Hippolyte Arnoux depicts a scene from an Egyptian marketplace. The image shows a veiled woman selling apples to two other veiled women, all set against a painted backdrop of palm trees. This photograph exemplifies the 19th-century fascination with documenting life in foreign lands, often with an emphasis on exoticism and cultural differences. The use of a painted backdrop suggests a staged composition, highlighting the artistic and theatrical qualities of early photography. This work, likely taken during Arnoux's travels in Egypt, captures a snapshot of daily life and offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the era.