Twee sfinxen in het museum van Gizeh c. 1870 - 1898

This photograph, titled "Twee sfinxen in het museum van Gizeh," was created by Maison Bonfils. The image presents two sphinxes, each a composite form of human and beast, displayed within the stark geometry of a museum setting. Their solid forms are presented in a monochromatic palette that drains the colour and flattens the depth of the space. The sphinxes are placed on cubic plinths, emphasizing their three-dimensional presence. There is a visual dialogue between ancient and modern, artifact and artifice. The museum's architecture, visible in the background, is suggested by vertical lines that frame the sphinxes. The composition is structured around contrasts. The rounded, organic forms of the sculptures are set against the museum's architectural grid. This arrangement highlights the play between form and function, nature and culture. The photograph doesn't just document; it interprets, inviting us to consider the interplay between the ancient world and its modern presentation.