Banks of the Nile at Cairo 1855 - 1859

Francis Frith made this photograph, "Banks of the Nile at Cairo," using the wet collodion process, likely in the 1850s. This was a time when European photographers were keenly documenting the landscapes and peoples of the Middle East. Frith's composition, with its careful arrangement of boats, figures, and buildings along the Nile, is typical of the colonial gaze. It presents a seemingly objective view of Cairo, yet it's impossible to ignore the power dynamics at play. European nations were increasingly exerting political and economic control over Egypt. Photography, as an emerging technology, played a role in shaping perceptions and solidifying colonial narratives. Images like this circulated widely, reinforcing ideas about the Orient as both exotic and knowable. To understand this image fully, we need to delve into the archives, examining travel accounts, colonial records, and the broader visual culture of the period. By doing so, we can begin to unpack the complex social and political forces that shaped its creation and reception.