Beeld van Ramses II bij de Luxortempel 1862 - 1895

Editor: Here we have Antonio Beato's photograph, "Beeld van Ramses II bij de Luxortempel," a gelatin silver print from somewhere between 1862 and 1895. It's… well, it feels like stepping back in time, doesn't it? So stark and still. What grabs you when you look at this, knowing it’s not just a photo, but a captured moment of history? Curator: Ah, yes, a delicious visual echo from a bygone era! What seizes me isn't just the grand, imposing statue of Ramses, though he certainly cuts a figure. It's more like the photo has caught hold of something bigger. The shadows seem to whisper of time's relentless march. This isn’t just Ramses; it’s the whisper of the whole, complex narrative that's held captive within these walls and graven images. I find myself wondering what tales those hieroglyphs could tell, if we knew how to listen? Editor: Absolutely. It's that weight of history, that feeling you can almost reach out and touch it. So, besides the hieroglyphs – because, yeah, my Ancient Egyptian is a little rusty! – are there other visual clues that hint at the story Beato's trying to tell? Curator: Well, ponder for a moment the stark contrast itself: light and shadow. The way the sun bleeds across Ramses’ face. To me, the artist suggests there is a play between visibility and invisibility. He’s eternally present in the photograph, while paradoxically lost in the shadows of time. In that moment, perhaps we the viewers are implicated in the story, not merely as observers but also as active narrators. What do you make of Beato positioning himself—and us—in the story of time? Editor: It feels almost voyeuristic, being allowed this glimpse into a moment that's both so monumental and so personal. That's something I'll take with me, definitely. Curator: Indeed. I'm charmed you notice that element as well, in the way that our role, or rather our relationship to that imposing statue has implications for time itself. It’s all an interconnected dance. These things tend to have more depth if you let them breathe.