Herdenkingsteen voor de Franse troepen van Napoleon III in 1860-1861, bij de Nahr al-Kalb in Libanon 1898

This photograph by Johannes Lodewijk Heldring depicts a stone memorializing Napoleon III's French troops in Lebanon between 1860 and 1861. The image speaks volumes about the public role of art and the politics of imagery within the context of French colonial expansion. In the mid-19th century, France, under Napoleon III, sought to expand its influence in the Levant, often cloaking its imperial ambitions in the language of protecting Christian minorities. This memorial, erected near the Nahr al-Kalb, a site historically significant for its array of commemorative inscriptions by various conquering armies, reflects France's self-conscious positioning within this lineage of power. The stark, unadorned stone suggests an attempt to legitimize French military intervention in the region. Understanding this photograph requires delving into the social and political history of 19th-century European colonialism and its representation. We can look at period newspapers, diplomatic correspondence, and military records, to reflect on how such artifacts functioned within the broader context of imperial ambition and cultural imposition.