Verkopers van suikerriet in Caïro 1888 - 1895

This photograph, titled 'Verkopers van suikerriet in Caïro,' was taken by Jean Pascal Sébah, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's a silver gelatin print, a process that renders a sharp, detailed image with a wide tonal range. But beyond the technical aspects, what strikes me is the image’s depiction of labor and economy. The vendors are shown amidst piles of sugarcane, their trade laid bare. The material itself – the raw sugarcane – speaks to a system of agricultural production and the physical labor required to bring it to market. Consider the contrast: the refined photographic process used to capture the image, versus the rough-hewn, unprocessed nature of the sugarcane and the apparent simplicity of the vendors' trade. Sébah’s photograph invites us to consider the social context of labor, politics, and consumption, urging us to look beyond the surface and appreciate the layers of meaning embedded within the image. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the everyday realities of work.