Grande Pagode Porte Ouest de la 1ère enceinte 1866

Emile Gsell created this albumen silver print of the Grande Pagode, West Gate of the First Enclosure in Cambodia. Gsell, a French photographer working in Southeast Asia, captured this image during a period of intense colonial interest in the region. The photograph offers us a glimpse into the visual tropes through which Westerners came to understand Khmer architecture. The image emphasizes the grandeur of Angkor, yet presents the temple as a 'ruin,' framing it as a lost civilization awaiting rediscovery by the West. This romantic vision obscures the ongoing presence and cultural significance of the site to local communities. The choice to focus on the decaying structure, rather than the living culture, speaks volumes about colonial attitudes towards Southeast Asia. Consider how this image contrasts with contemporary Cambodian perspectives on Angkor Wat. How does the act of photographing and presenting these temples as ruins affect the cultural narrative?