The Pyramids of Dahshoor From the East 1857

This albumen print of the Dahshur pyramids was made by Francis Frith, likely in the late 1850s. Frith was among the first British photographers to capture the Middle East, creating a visual record of its ancient sites. Photography in the 19th century wasn't just about documenting reality; it was deeply entwined with colonialism and power dynamics. Frith’s images were not neutral; they were often framed to emphasize the grandeur of the ancient world, implicitly contrasting it with the contemporary one. The pyramids themselves were symbols of a civilization that had long captivated European imaginations. Egypt was a land of pharaohs and biblical stories. To understand this photograph better, we can look into the colonial context of the time, the technology of early photography, and even travel accounts of the period. Historical analysis helps us unpack the layers of meaning embedded in this image.