Pyramids of Geezeh [Giza]. 1846 - 1849

David Roberts made this print of the Pyramids of Giza in the 19th century, during a time when Europe was deeply invested in the colonial project and consumed with Egyptology. The print reflects the West's fascination with and simultaneous detachment from ancient cultures. Roberts, like many artists of his time, aimed to capture the grandeur and scale of Egyptian monuments. However, these depictions often framed Egypt through a Western lens, emphasizing the exotic and the monumental while overlooking the complex social and political realities of the time. Notice the figures in the foreground. They are dwarfed by the pyramids, which suggests an idea of the supremacy of an ancient civilization, whilst being populated by contemporary groups. What stories do we tell, and not tell when we present the pyramids as uninhabited? Roberts’ work presents a view of Egypt that is both awe-inspiring and imbued with the power dynamics of its time.