Irrigatiewerken aan de Nijl 1862 - 1895

This albumen print titled Irrigatiewerken aan de Nijl, or Irrigation Works on the Nile, was created by Antonio Beato. The photograph depicts a Shaduf, a hand-operated irrigation tool used to lift water from the Nile River, and provides insight into the social and economic structures of late 19th-century Egypt. Beato, a photographer of Italian-British origin, documented the people and landscapes of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. His work often served the European appetite for images of exotic lands, but also provides valuable insights into the daily lives of the people who lived there. The image creates meaning through its depiction of manual labor and the use of simple technology in contrast to the industrial progress of Europe. Egypt at this time was undergoing significant transformation, with increasing European influence and modernization efforts. The photograph then, serves as a document of traditional practices facing the pressures of a changing world. Further research into the archives of colonial photography and travel literature will enrich our understanding of this image and its place within broader cultural and historical contexts.