Ruïnes van een tempel bij Medinet Haboe before 1862

This albumen print, “Ruïnes van een tempel bij Medinet Haboe,” was created by Francis Frith in the 19th century. Frith was part of a wave of photographers who traveled to the Middle East to document ancient sites. Through the lens of Frith's camera, we see not just ruins, but also a moment frozen in time. During the Victorian era, photography became a tool for constructing narratives about empire and civilization. Frith’s photographs contributed to the Western gaze on Egypt, framing it as a land of ancient wonders ripe for exploration and, implicitly, colonization. The choice to capture ruins speaks volumes, emphasizing a narrative of decline and decay, implicitly contrasting it with the perceived progress of Western societies. How do we reconcile the allure of these images with the complex history of cultural appropriation and colonial power dynamics they represent?