Vendeuses de Cannes à Sucre au Caire c. 19th century

Félix Bonfils, a French photographer, produced this albumen print titled 'Vendeuses de Cannes à Sucre au Caire' – or 'Sugar Cane Vendors in Cairo' – sometime in the second half of the 19th century. Bonfils, like many European photographers of the time, capitalized on the orientalist fascination with the Middle East. This image, with its carefully arranged figures and exotic setting, caters to Western audiences eager for a glimpse into what they perceived as a distant and mysterious world. The photograph presents a romanticized view of Egyptian life, focusing on the picturesque rather than the socio-economic realities of the time. It prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation, and whose stories get told, and how. Understanding this image requires us to delve into the complex history of colonialism, orientalism, and the rise of photography as a tool for shaping perceptions of the world. Through careful research into travelogues, ethnographic studies, and photographic archives, we can begin to unpack the layers of meaning embedded within this seemingly simple image.