Piramide van Chefren, Gizeh 1888 - 1895

This photoprint shows the Pyramid of Chefren in Gizeh by Jean Pascal Sébah. The image is striking for its play of geometric forms against the textured landscape. The monumental pyramid dominates the composition, its triangular shape creating a strong diagonal thrust. Sébah captures the rough texture of the pyramid’s stone blocks, contrasting it with the smooth, light-filled sky. This interplay of texture and form not only emphasizes the pyramid’s imposing physical presence, but also destabilizes its symbolic representation of permanence, revealing the effects of time and the elements. The presence of people and camels adds a sense of scale, underscoring the vastness of the pyramid and its surrounding environment. By using light and shadow, Sébah invites a reconsideration of our relationship to monumental structures and their cultural significance, suggesting that meaning is constructed through the interaction of form, texture, and human presence.