Zouaves 1855

Roger Fenton made this albumen print, Zouaves, sometime in the mid-19th century. Fenton, as a British photographer, is best known for his images of the Crimean War. Here, we see a formal arrangement of French soldiers, the Zouaves, in their distinctive North African-inspired uniforms. These soldiers were romanticized for their bravery and exoticized for their cultural otherness, embodying the complexities of the French colonial project. Fenton’s photograph provides a window into the social and military structures of the time. The soldiers’ relaxed poses offer a glimpse into their daily lives amidst conflict, while also revealing how identity and representation were carefully constructed. The image thus allows us to consider the human dimensions of war, alongside the complicated politics of cultural representation and colonial power.