Nach Tunis und Algerien und Besuch der Oasen Biskra und Sidi Okba 1881

This is the title page of the book "Nach Tunis und Algerien und Besuch der Oasen Biskra und Sidi Okba," or "To Tunis and Algeria and Visit to the Oases Biskra and Sidi Okba", by Stephan Meyer. Without a date, it is hard to place the book exactly, but it is crucial to remember that Tunisia and Algeria became French protectorates in 1881 and 1830 respectively. Meyer's travelogue emerges in the context of European colonialism and its fascination with North Africa. His journey and subsequent writings are products of a complex entanglement between the West and the Arab world. The book’s title and author’s portrait on the left, framed in what might have been considered an "exotic" or "other" setting, point to orientalist perspectives shaping European perceptions. As you consider this book, think about the unequal power dynamics inherent in travel during colonial times and consider how this piece both reflects and perpetuates these dynamics.