Reisalbum met 80 foto's van Egypte 1898

This red photo album of Egypt, containing 80 photographs, was compiled by Maison Bonfils. The album testifies to the growing popularity of travel to Egypt in the late 19th century, particularly among Western elites. Consider the power dynamics inherent in these early photographs. They were often produced by European studios like Maison Bonfils for a Western audience, shaping perceptions of Egyptian culture and landscape through a colonial gaze. The very act of collecting and displaying these photographs in an album reflects a desire to possess and control knowledge about a foreign land. These images offer valuable insights into the social and cultural context of the time. By consulting archival sources, travelogues, and historical studies, we can unpack the complex relationship between photography, colonialism, and the construction of cultural identity. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context, and it is up to the historian to interpret it.