13. Détails, Mosquée d’Ibn Toûloûn 1843

Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey made this print, titled "13. Details, Mosque of Ibn Tulun," sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Girault de Prangey was part of a wave of 19th century European artists and scholars who traveled to the Middle East, North Africa, and other parts of the world, often with the backing of colonial powers. These journeys were fueled by a mix of scientific curiosity, romanticism, and the desire to document and classify cultures and monuments. Here, he depicts architectural details from the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt. While his careful renderings of the mosque’s intricate stonework and geometric patterns are visually compelling, his work also speaks to the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation. As a European artist documenting Islamic architecture, Girault de Prangey’s gaze was inevitably shaped by his own cultural background and the colonial context of the time. His work can be appreciated for its aesthetic qualities and historical value, but it's also important to consider the complex relationship between the artist, his subject, and the broader social forces at play.