The Aesthetics of Desire: An Anthropological Study About Ottoman Harem Photographs

Abstract

Die Dissertation ist gesperrt bis zum 22. November 2026 !

The research revolves around the photographic collection of Pierre de Gigord, which comprises over 6,000 photographs produced in the Ottoman Empire. Amidst the vast diversity within the collection, the intention is to analyze photographs pertaining to the erotic topic represented through the concept of the harem. To do so, one must consider the context in which photography developed in the Ottoman Empire, the orientalist discourses that permeate its production and preservation, the role of the collector, and the repository in which they are housed. The central thrust of the research is to shift harem photographs from the periphery of photographic albums, series, and folders of individual photographs to the forefront, making them the focal point of the discussion. To achieve this, a counter-archive has been constructed, serving as both a research methodology and a visual intervention in relation to Pierre de Gigord's collection. The term "harem photography" is used as a category of analysis, and this study seeks to highlight the specificities of Ottoman harem photographic aesthetics and their integration into Western popular culture.