Fontein op de binnenplaats van de moskee van Mohammed Ali, Caïro 1888 - 1895

Jean Pascal Sébah made this photograph of the fountain in the courtyard of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo. Sébah was a photographer of Syrian and Armenian descent, based in Istanbul. His images, capturing the architecture and people of the Ottoman Empire, were immensely popular among European tourists. In this picture, we see the play of light and shadow on the mosque’s marble surfaces, which creates a sense of depth and serenity. The mosque itself, commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha in the 19th century, reflects the modernization of Egypt under his rule. Its Ottoman architectural style and location within the Citadel symbolized political power. The photograph's circulation contributed to Western perceptions of the "Orient," often reinforcing stereotypes about Islamic culture. To fully grasp this photograph, researchers might explore Sébah’s biography, the history of photography in the Ottoman Empire, and the social context in which these images were consumed. Art, after all, is embedded in a web of cultural and institutional forces.