Gezicht op de Citadel van Caïro 1903

Richard Sochor created this stereoscopic image of the Citadel of Cairo. The image provides an important perspective on the social dynamics within Egypt under colonial influence. Stereoscopic images like this were popular during a period of increased European interest in and domination of the region. Here, the architecture and the attire of the local people, are presented for a Western audience. What does it mean to capture the image of a place and its people? The gaze of the photographer—and, by extension, the viewer—becomes an act of claiming ownership over the image. These images often served to reinforce stereotypes and power imbalances. Sochor’s photograph not only captures a physical space, but also hints at the complex relationship between observer and observed, and the power dynamics inherent in such visual encounters. The image invites us to reflect on the gaze, representation, and the colonial past.