Gesluierde vrouwen zitten op een kar die wordt voortgetrokken door een ezel 1887 - 1900

This photograph by G. Lekegian & Co., titled ‘Veiled Women on a Cart Pulled by a Donkey,’ offers a glimpse into the dynamics of gender and representation in late 19th-century Ottoman society. The image captures several women, their faces obscured by veils, seated on a cart. The clothing and veiling practices depicted speak to cultural norms about modesty and female identity. The presence of women, visibly concealed, invites questions about visibility, agency, and the gaze. The photograph could have been made to serve Orientalist desires, catering to Western audiences interested in the ‘exotic’ customs of the East. At the same time, it offers a rare, and perhaps unintentional, view of women's lives within their own cultural context. The photograph acts as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between cultural representation, gendered expectations, and the silent voices of women within historical narratives.