Temple at Wady Dabod [Wadi Dâbûd], Nubia. 1846 - 1849

David Roberts created this print of the Temple at Wady Dabod in Nubia during a period when European interest in Egypt and the Middle East was soaring. Roberts, like many artists of his time, was drawn to the “exoticism” of the region, but it is important to consider this image within the context of European colonialism and the power dynamics at play. The temple, a site of profound cultural and historical significance for the Nubian people, is presented through a Western lens. The figures in the foreground, likely local inhabitants, are dwarfed by the architecture. Their presence raises questions about who gets to control and interpret history. Roberts’s work captures a specific moment in time, one where Western artists and intellectuals were actively shaping perceptions of the “Orient” for European audiences, sometimes reinforcing stereotypes and overshadowing the voices and perspectives of the people who lived there. Consider the emotional weight of viewing your cultural heritage through the eyes of another.