Momies Egyptiennes (Egyptian Mummies) c. 1870

Félix Bonfils was a pioneering photographer who documented the landscapes and people of the Middle East during the late 19th century. "Momies Egyptiennes" (c. 1870) exemplifies Bonfils’s fascination with the region’s ancient history. The photograph captures two Egyptian mummies, one fully wrapped and the other partially unwrapped, along with various artifacts, creating a stark yet haunting tableau. The image is framed by a rough-hewn wall, adding to the sense of antiquity and mystery. Bonfils’s work, including this photograph, helped to introduce a wider audience to the wonders of the ancient world.