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Shoes Polished, Cairo
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Shoes Polished, Cairo
A British officer has his shoes polished at Cairo. Date: 1885
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Media ID 7130631
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10126247
1885 Abroad Cairo Colonialism Pith Polished Power Shoes Superiority
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the essence of colonialism in late 19th century Egypt, as a British officer takes a moment to have his shoes polished in the bustling streets of Cairo. The year is 1885, and the British Empire's reach extended far beyond its shores, with Egypt under de facto British control following the Anglo-Egyptian War. The officer, dressed in full regalia, wears the distinctive pith helmet and carries a rifle slung over his shoulder. His polished boots gleam in the sunlight, a testament to the meticulous attention to detail expected of British soldiers abroad. The scene is one of stark contrasts - the pristine uniform of the officer, juxtaposed against the dusty, chaotic backdrop of Cairo's streets. The Egyptian shoe shiner, dressed in traditional attire, bends low to attend to the officer's feet. The power dynamic is palpable, with the officer's superiority and authority on full display. Yet, the scene also hints at the interconnectedness of cultures and the exchange of goods and services that characterized colonialism. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the complex history of colonialism and its far-reaching impact on Egypt and its people. It also serves as a snapshot of a bygone era, when travel abroad was a grand adventure and the British Empire's reach extended to the farthest corners of the globe.
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