[Excavations near the Sphinx] 1853

This photograph, "Excavations near the Sphinx," was captured by John Beasley Greene, a young American photographer, in the mid-19th century, a period of intense European and American interest in Egypt. Greene's image offers us a window into the colonial gaze and the archaeological fervor of the time. We see the monumental Sphinx in the background, partially obscured, while in the foreground, local Egyptian laborers are actively engaged in excavation. The contrast is stark. It raises questions about who controls the narrative and whose history is being unearthed. The photograph captures a moment laden with power dynamics, where Western fascination intersects with Egyptian labor and heritage. The muted tones and the way the figures are positioned within the landscape evoke a sense of both discovery and intrusion. It reminds us of the complex and often fraught relationship between the West and the Middle East, a relationship that continues to shape our world today.