Zeilboot (dahabie) op de Nijl met op de achtergrond de Grote zuilengalerij in Luxor c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph of a dahabiya on the Nile with the Great Colonnade at Luxor in the background was taken by C. & G. Zangaki. Likely taken in the late 19th century, this image exists within the context of European colonialism in Egypt, when photography became a tool for documenting and exoticizing the region. The photograph captures a moment of leisure but also underscores the power dynamics at play. The dahabiya, a traditional Nile boat, is here transformed into a tourist vessel, subtly altering its original purpose. The presence of what are presumably local workers serving tourists highlights the class and racial disparities inherent in the colonial encounter. The sepia tone lends the photograph a nostalgic air, yet it also obscures the complexities of the scene, reinforcing stereotypical views. While the image appears to celebrate Egyptian culture, it simultaneously reinforces Western dominance, inviting viewers to reflect on the gaze through which we perceive history.