Siout [Asyût]. Upper Egypt. 1846 - 1849

David Roberts made this print of Siout, now Asyut, in Upper Egypt sometime in the 19th century. During this period, European artists traveled to the Middle East, often idealizing what they saw through their own cultural lenses. Here, Roberts depicts a serene scene of daily life, a camel caravan resting near a minaret. But this picturesque image also reflects the colonial gaze of the time. How might the local people have viewed these European artists who came to represent their lives and landscapes? What stories were left untold in these artistic encounters? Consider the power dynamics at play when viewing this image. Who has the authority to represent whom? How does this representation shape our understanding of different cultures and histories? This artwork invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural exchange and representation, urging us to question whose perspectives are amplified and whose are silenced.