Standbeeld van Ferdinand de Lesseps bij het Suezkanaal in Port Said 1894 - 1910

C. & G. Zangaki made this photograph of the statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps at the Suez Canal in Port Said. It's interesting how the monument juts out into the water, which stretches away to a distant horizon. Looking at it now, it's clear that the texture of the statue is smooth, almost featureless; in contrast, the base shows the rough texture of the stonework. A dark band of water rises up the monument, showing the tide and the movement of the sea. There are small figures dotted around the base and just visible in the water, giving a sense of scale to the monument and suggesting the relationship between the manmade and the natural world. The photograph is sepia-toned, which flattens the perspective and gives a timeless feel to the image; I'm reminded of other monument photographers like Eugène Atget. It raises questions about progress, power, and how we remember the past. It reminds us that art is always part of a conversation across time, inviting us to bring our own interpretations and questions to the table.