Ile de Fîleh (Philæ), Édifice de l'Est - Face Latérale Vue du Point D 1851 - 1852

This is Félix Teynard's photograph, "Ile de Fîleh (Philæ), Édifice de l'Est - Face Latérale Vue du Point D," created in the mid-19th century using the calotype process. Teynard, a French engineer and photographer, documented Egypt during a time of intense European interest in its ancient history and culture. As we consider this image, we might reflect on the power dynamics inherent in such a project. Here, an outsider captures and interprets a land with a rich, complex history. The photograph is not just a visual record; it is also a product of its time, reflecting European colonial attitudes towards the non-Western world. How does the act of photographing—of framing and presenting—shape our understanding of a place and its people? Look closely, and you'll see not just the grandeur of the architecture but also the surrounding disarray and the implied presence of the photographer—a Westerner amidst the remnants of an ancient civilization. This photograph invites us to consider the gaze of the outsider and how it impacts the narratives we construct about different cultures.