Zes gezichten op Damascus, Syrië before 1898

Ernest Diehl's "Six Views of Damascus, Syria" captures various scenes of daily life in the city through photographs. It is an artifact of the Western gaze on the Middle East in the late 19th century. What strikes me is how Diehl, as a European photographer, frames Damascus. These images reflect a colonial perspective, focusing on what might have seemed exotic or picturesque to a Western audience. Notice the emphasis on bustling streets, marketplaces, and traditional architecture, each view carefully composed to construct a particular narrative of Damascus. The inclusion of human figures, often engaged in everyday activities, adds a layer of complexity. How much do these images tell us about the lives and experiences of the Syrian people themselves, versus reinforcing orientalist stereotypes? What stories remain untold, filtered out through Diehl's lens? This collection serves as a reminder of the power dynamics inherent in representation, and the importance of critically examining whose stories are being told, and how.