A Public Place in Old Cairo c. 1880

Curator: This is Félix Bonfils's photograph, "A Public Place in Old Cairo." It's a view of daily life. Editor: It feels so muted, almost dreamlike. The light is soft, giving a sense of timelessness. Curator: Bonfils was part of a wave of photographers documenting the Middle East for European consumption. Think about the colonial gaze embedded in the production and circulation of these images. Editor: I'm struck by the composition, how the archway on the right frames a figure in white, drawing the eye through the crowded scene. Curator: Consider the labor involved. The subjects, the photographer, the printers, and the consumers were all part of a complex system of image production. Editor: It really does invite contemplation, a glimpse into another world structured by visual elements. Curator: Absolutely, and by layers of socio-economic relationships. Editor: Food for thought indeed.