Artwork
Thebes, The Colossi of Memnon
Thebes, The Colossi of Memnon is a photography by the Impressionist artist Henri Béchard. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This photograph depicts the Colossi of Memnon, two large stone statues in Egypt.
About this work
Overview
This photograph depicts the Colossi of Memnon, two large stone statues in Egypt. The image captures the statues from an angled perspective, with one in shadow and the other illuminated.
Subject & Meaning
The Colossi of Memnon were renowned in ancient times, with one statue once believed to sing at sunrise. The statues are shown with local guides, used to convey scale.
Technique & Style
The photograph exhibits characteristics common among images of the same monument from the period, including the use of local guides for scale and an angled view. Captions and signatures were often written in reverse on the negative.
History & Provenance
The photograph was taken by Henri Béchard in the 1870s, a time when photographers often produced similar images of the same subjects.
Artist & collection
