Gezicht op het Ramesseum te Thebes before 1862

This photograph of the Ramesseum at Thebes was taken by Francis Frith, a prominent British photographer, as part of his extensive documentation of Egypt in the mid-19th century. Frith's work emerged during a period of intense European interest in the Middle East, shaped by colonial ambitions and orientalist fantasies. What did it mean for a British man to travel to Egypt and record its monuments through the lens of his own cultural perspective? His photographs often presented a romanticized, timeless view of ancient ruins, appealing to Western audiences eager for exotic and historical narratives. Frith’s images circulated widely, reinforcing certain ideas about Egyptian history and identity. By capturing these grand structures, Frith both preserved and, in a way, possessed them. Consider how his work might reflect the power dynamics of the time, subtly shaping perceptions of Egyptian culture for viewers back in Europe.