Minaret occidental de la Mosqée du Khalif Hakem, au Kaire 1850

This is Maxime Du Camp’s photograph of the Minaret occidental de la Mosqée du Khalif Hakem, au Kaire, a salt print now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The photograph presents us with a study in geometric forms. Notice how Du Camp meticulously captures the minaret's cubic base, crowned by its cylindrical tower. The interplay of light and shadow enhances the structure's volume, emphasizing its stark, monumental presence against the sky. Consider how the photograph’s composition directs our gaze upwards, accentuating the minaret's verticality. The textured surfaces of the ancient stone, rendered in the monochrome tones of the salt print, create a palpable sense of depth and age. Through his careful arrangement of form and light, Du Camp invites us to consider the minaret not just as a historical artifact, but as a potent symbol of architectural and cultural meaning. It is a monument to the enduring power of structural form.