Gezicht op de Tempel van Kom Ombo c. 1870 - 1898

Maison Bonfils created this albumen print titled "View of the Temple of Kom Ombo" showing the ancient Egyptian temple in its weathered state. This image raises important questions about the social and political context of archaeological documentation in the 19th century. How do photographs like this shape our understanding of ancient cultures? What role did European photographers play in constructing a visual record of non-Western sites? Made in a time of European colonial expansion and growing interest in ancient civilizations, this photograph reflects a Western gaze on Egyptian heritage. Consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of photographing and documenting another culture's history. This photograph presents the temple as a ruin, devoid of its original cultural context. It becomes an object of study and fascination for a Western audience, prompting us to consider the complex relationship between photography, colonialism, and the preservation of cultural heritage. By researching the history of photography in Egypt, colonial archives, and the writings of travelers and archaeologists, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional forces that shaped this image and its reception.