WEDNESDAY NOSTALGIA – LANTERN SLIDES

By Islam El Shazly

I have always been told that nostalgia is a seductive mistress, which is very much true, too much dwelling on what has been, and what might have become had it stayed the same, can lead to a lot of misery, frustration, and a bit of stagnation in creativity.

However, it is one of the very few things that we share as humans, and we don’t share much really. Reminiscing about the glory of the past, the architecture and the arts, the culture and the might. There’s a certain romance to it, and that’s not too bad, because if used properly, it can fuel future grand designs in all aspects of life.

It’s a very delicate balance, preserving heritage while advancing forward; preserving culture while giving birth to new ideas.

Wednesday Nostalgia will hopefully insha’ Allah be a regular post on Al Rahalah where we will try to bring back some of the enchanting beauty and magic of a world that we lost in our pursuit of industry.

Below is a selection of lantern slides from the Brooklyn Museum’s collection that was started in the late 19^thcentury; these ethereal glass slides were often hand-coloured for more realistic effect. The images are part of the Egyptian Lantern Slides – General Views & People collection and for the most part they date back to the late 19^th and very early 20^th centuries, perhaps no later than 1921.