Feloeken op de Nijl bij de Qasr al-Nil-brug, Caïro 1888 - 1895

This photograph, "Feloeken op de Nijl bij de Qasr al-Nil-brug, Caïro," was captured by Jean Pascal Sébah. The composition is immediately striking. The feluccas' sails dominate the scene, their triangular shapes creating a dynamic interplay of lines against the static, horizontal architecture in the background. The muted sepia tones lend the image a sense of timelessness, while the texture of the water and the sails adds depth. The Qasr al-Nil Bridge punctuates the left with its man-made geometry. This bridge hints at modernity contrasted with the traditional boats. Considered through the lens of structuralism, the photograph presents a series of binary oppositions: old versus new, natural versus artificial, fluid versus static. These contrasts aren’t just aesthetic choices; they function as signs that point to larger cultural and historical narratives about progress and tradition in late 19th-century Cairo. The symmetry of the bridge versus the asymmetry of the sails may invite us to challenge the notion of a single, fixed interpretation of the scene.