Portret van een onbekende bedoeïense man 1887 - 1900

This photograph of an unknown Bedouin man was created by G. Lekegian & Co. sometime in the late 19th century, in a studio in Cairo, Egypt. The image evokes orientalist fantasies common in European art of the period. The backdrop of a stylized desert landscape creates a theatrical setting. But the man himself, in traditional dress, is posed in a way that suggests both dignity and defiance. His gaze is direct, challenging the viewer’s expectations. Lekegian & Co. was one of several photography studios catering to European tourists seeking exotic souvenirs. These photographs contributed to a constructed image of the Middle East, shaped by Western desires and assumptions. Today, the photograph stands as a complex artifact. It speaks to cultural exchange, colonial power dynamics, and the politics of representation. To fully understand this image, further research is needed: Who were Lekegian & Co.’s clients? What were the prevailing attitudes toward Bedouins in colonial Egypt? Examining these questions can shed light on the social forces that shaped this photograph, and its enduring power as an image.