Portret van een zouaaf, vermoedelijk in Algerije 1896

This is a photograph of a Zouave, likely taken in Algeria by the photographer Marotte. In the 19th century, photography emerged as a powerful medium, deeply intertwined with colonialism. Here, the subject is a soldier, presumably part of the French colonial army. The photograph, made with silver salts and sunlight, fixes a particular kind of time, place, and person. As the French expanded their influence in North Africa, photography played a role in documenting, and therefore possessing, the people and landscapes they encountered. What makes the photograph so powerful is its indexical nature. The camera does not lie, but instead, captures a scene with all of its complexities. Consider the amount of labor involved in the making of this single image. From the mining of the silver used in the photographic process to the embodied labor of the sitter posing for the camera. This physical manifestation of time, place, and human interaction creates an intimacy between viewer and subject. Thinking about photographs this way helps us look beyond what is depicted, and consider the social context of its making.