Here's an interesting Egyptian thread for you!
Below is the very first (western) depiction of the Sphinx in 1579 (she was rather buxom back then). Then a sketch in 1665, the year before London's Great Fire. The Pyramids seem peculiar until compared with a photo of those in Sudan!
This is the very first photograph of the Sphinx. It was taken 175 years abo by Maxime Du Camp in 1849. As you can see, the Sphinx had not yet been excavated and was still partially buried in the sands.
These are the first colour photos of the Sphinx and Pyramids. They are autochromes (which I have enhanced for you) and this selection were taken in January 1914, a few months before the First World War.
Tourism was already a thing in Egypt amongst wealthy westerners fascinated by Egyptology. These enhanced autochromes show various street traders in Cairo and Karnak. The stallholders were photographed in 1913 by British chemist Friedrich Paneth on his honeymoon. The other traders were photographed a year later in Cairo in 1914.
In January 1914 two photographers - Auguste Leon and Helen Messinger Murdoch - visited Aswan to photograph the Bishari tribespeople.
Whilst in Aswan, August Leon captured some beautiful autochrome portrait, which I have enhanced here. They are both dated Monday 19th January 1914.
This collection of enhanced autochromes were taken in 1920, by visting photographers Jules Gervais-Courtellemont and W. Robert Moore. They shpw the bustling traders in Cairo.
1920 was also the date of these majestic autcohrome shots of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, photographed 104 years ago by Jules Gervais-Courtellemont.
And my final enhancement in this thread is an absolute beauty. The golden sunset at giza. A spectacular show taken in 1926 by Jules Gervais-Courtellemont 😍
If you enjoy my enhancements, why not leave a little tip via my ko-fi page? Every single penny helps support me and the work. thank you xx
ko-fi.com/babelcolour
And for those interested in seeing the original shots before Ive slaved away over them, here are a few to illustrate the work...
And in the West the fad for all things Egyptian are evidence by this 109-year-old autochrome from 1915. An unknown dancer and an unknown photographer, but a rather glorious costume!
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