Finding Aid for the Al Djazair and Tunis Album 2001.R.20
Beth Ann Guynn
Special Collections
2014
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution: Special Collections
Title: Al Djazair and Tunis album
Creator: Al-Wahhāb, Abdu Rabbih
Identifier/Call Number: 2001.R.20
Physical Description: 1 album(s)(107 photographs)
Date: 1881
Abstract: The album, compiled by a person identified as Abdu Rabbih al-Wahhāb, contains photographs of the Maghreb region of North Africa.
The first half of the album features views of Algeria and Tunisia, while the second half is devoted to portraits of North
Africans. These are primarily studio portraits of women from various ethnic groups, although some male occupational portraits,
as well as portraits of dignitaries such as the Agha and Califa of Ouargla are included.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language of Material: Collection material is in Arabic and Judeo-Arabic.
Biographical/Historical Note
The title page lists a person known as Abdu Rabbih al-Wahhāb as the "author" of the album. This may be a pseudonym or fictitious
name.
Arrangment
Arranged in a single series: Series I. Al Djazair and Tunis Album.
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 2001.
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Preferred Citation
Al Djazair and Tunis album, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2001.R.20.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2001r20
Scope and Content of Collection
The album contains 107 albumen photographs of the Maghreb region of North Africa. The first half of the album features views
of Algeria and Tunisia taken in and around Tlemcen, Algiers, Biskra, Blida, Béjaïa, El Kantara, Carthage, Lambessa, and Ouargle.
There are images of mosques, tombs, and palaces, as well as local neighborhoods and streets. Natural sites, such as gorges,
oases, and desert areas are also depicted, as are views of Roman ruins. The second half is devoted to portraits of North African
peoples. These are primarily studio portraits of women from various ethnic groups, although some male occupational portraits,
as well as portraits of dignitaries such as the Agha and Califa of Ouargla are included. Many of the sitters are identified
by name. A few scenes of daily life showing coffee houses, shops, markets, and street life are interspersed among the portraits.
The album was seemilngly compiled from a North African perspective, as only a few images containing portions of French buildings
allude to a western presence. This fact, along with the album's elaborate box and covers, suggests that it may have been compiled
for a high ranking official or wealthy North African.
The photographs are unsigned and the photographer(s) have not been identified.
The covers of the album are made of carved wood and tooled and painted leather set into brass backings and closed with brass
hinges; decorations are in a North African artisanal style comprising calligraphic and geometric elements. On the front cover
a tugra (i.e. in the style of an Ottoman ruler's signature) written in a combination of colloquial and classical Arabic reads:
Algiers / Tunis. Do not look at the beauty of appearances, look at your deeds. Appearance is not as important as the inner
self.
The first sura of the Qur'an is inscribed in the center of the brass inner cover: I start with the name of God; and in the
border: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
The title page reads: Author: Abdu Rabbih al-Wahhāb - Fernand tunisi baldati min Kusa [?] (called Gabriel the Christian, in
the year 1881). The date of compilation is significant in that 1881 marked the end of over three centuries of Ottoman rule
in the Maghreb.
The album is housed in a carved wooden box. Carved on the box cover, also as a tugra, are the names of two brothers, Kheireddine
and Arrouj (Hayreddin Barbarossa and Oruç Reis), infamous sixteenth-century corsairs.
The titles of the individual photographs are from the captions written on the mounts. Most captions are in Arabic; some mounts
bear Judeo-Arabic captions as noted; a few images are uncaptioned and titles for these were devised by the archivist. The
Arabic captions were translated by Karim Boughida and David Brafman. The Judeo-Arabaic captions were translated by Jona Sabir.
Processing History
Processed and cataloged by Beth Ann Guynn in 2001. Finding aid encoded by Linda Kleiger and Guynn. The finding aid was updated
by Guynn in 2021.
Publication Rights
Digitized Material
The collection was digitized in 2015 and the images are available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2001r20
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Clothing and dress -- Algeria
Clothing and dress -- Tunisia
Architecture, Islamic -- Algeria
Architecture, Islamic -- Tunisia
Women -- Tunisia
Women -- Algeria
Streets -- Algeria
Tombs -- Algeria
Occupations -- Algeria -- History -- 19th century
Occupations -- Tunisia -- History -- 19th century
Indigeneous peoples -- Tunisia -- Portraits
Mosques -- Algeria
Gorges -- Algeria
Indigenous peoples -- Algeria -- Portraits
Tunisia -- Antiquities -- Roman
Tunisia -- Description and travel
Tunisia -- Social life and customs
France -- Colonies -- Africa
Algeria -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Algeria -- Antiquities, Roman
Photographs, Original
Algeria -- Description and travel
Albumen prints -- Algeria -- 19th century
Studio portraits -- Tunisia -- 19th century
Studio portraits -- Algeria -- 19th century
Albumen prints -- Tunisia -- 19th century
Al Djazair and Tunis, Series I.
1881
Al Djazair and Tunis album
box 1, page 1 recto
The New Mosque 2001.R.20-1r.
Scope and Contents
Djama'a el Djedid or Jamaa El Jedid; known during French colonial rule as the Mosquée de la Pêcherie or the Mosque of the
Fisherman's Wharf.
box 1, page 1 verso
Interior of the Mosque of Sidi bou Mediene in the City of Tlemcen 2001.R.20-1v
box 1, page 2 recto
Entry to the Mosque of Sidi bou Mediene 2001.R.20-2r
box 1, page 2 verso
Interior of Mosque al Kebir, Algiers 2001.R.20-2v
box 1, page 3 recto
Door of Mosque al Kebir 2001.R.20-3r
box 1, page 3 verso
The New Mosque, Algiers 2001.R.20-3v
box 1, page 4 recto
The Palace of Mustapha, Dey of Algiers 2001.R.20-4r
box 1, page 4 verso
Palace of the Dey 2001.R.20-4v
Scope and Contents
Palace of Mustapha.
box 1, page 5 recto
Heart of the Palace of the Dey in Algiers 2001.R.20-5r
box 1, page 5 verso
Quarter in Algiers 2001.R.20-5v
box 1, page 6 recto
Quarter in Algiers 2001.R.20-6r
box 1, page 6 verso
Neighborhood of the al Djadid Gate near Mosque Zeitun 2001.R.20-6v
Scope and Contents
Al Djedid or Jamaa El Jedid Gate.
box 1, page 7 recto
Quarter of Sidi Helal 2001.R.20-7r
box 1, page 7 verso
Palace of the Dey, Neighborhood of Mustapha near Algiers 2001.R.20-7v
box 1, page 8 recto
Garden of an Islamic House near Algiers 2001.R.20-8r
box 1, page 8 verso
[Roman Cistern, Carthage] 2001.R.20-8v
box 1, page 9 verso
Gorge of Lakhara near Béjaïa 2001.R.20-9v
box 1, page 10 recto
Blida--the Gorge Chiffa, River of Monkeys between Blida and Médéa 2001.R.20-10r
box 1, page 10 verso
Set of Palm Trees in Hamma 2001.R.20-10v
box 1, page 11 recto
Camels in Desert 2001.R.20-11r
box 1, page 11 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-11v
box 1, page 12 recto
Dromedary 2001.R.20-12r
Scope and Contents
A mehari or riding camel.
box 1, page 12 verso
Saharan Traveler 2001.R.20-12v
box 1, page 13 recto
Gorge of Lakhara 2001.R.20-13r
box 1, page 13 verso
Tents [Bwut al-Chaar] near Biskra 2001.R.20-13v
box 1, page 14 recto
Shrine of Sīdī Ya'kub in Grove of Olive Trees, Blida 2001.R.20-14r
box 1, page 14 verso
Tomb of Sīdī 'Uqba near Biskra 2001.R.20-14v
box 1, page 15 recto
Quarter in Biskra 2001.R.20-15r
box 1, page 15 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-15v
box 1, page 16 recto
Gardens near Biskra 2001.R.20-16r
box 1, page 16 verso
[Wall with Graffiti] 2001.R.20-16v
box 1, page 17 recto
Old Quarter in Laghouat 2001.R.20-17r
box 1, page 17 verso
Ruins of Massoura near Tiemcen 2001.R.20-17v
box 1, page 18 recto
El Kantara between Batna and Biskra 2001.R.20-18r
box 1, page 18 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-18v
box 1, page 19 recto
Roman Gate in Lambessa 2001.R.20-19r
box 1, page 19 verso
Coffee House for Muslims, Touggourt 2001.R.20-19v
box 1, page 20 recto
Quarter in Biskra 2001.R.20-20r
box 1, page 20 verso
Coffee House for Muslims in Ouargla 2001.R.20-20v
Scope and Contents
Ouargla is in southern Algeria.
box 1, page 21 recto
Sahara, View from Theniet Siffa, the Road of Sepha 2001.R.20-21r
box 1, page 21 verso
Kabyle Girls and Women and Prostitutes of Algiers 2001.R.20-21v
Scope and Contents
Six images.
box 1, page 22 recto
The Agha and Khalifa of Ouargla 2001.R.20.22r
Scope and Contents
Four images.
box 1, page 22 verso
"Baba Salem" - Algiers 2001.R.20-22v
box 1, page 23 recto
Youth [?] in Algiers 2001.R.20-23r
box 1, page 23 verso
A Merchant of Algeria 2001.R.20-23v
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 24 recto
An Wise Man of Algeria 2001.R.20-24r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 24 verso
Magician of Biskra 2001.R.20-24v
box 1, page 25 recto
Kabyle Woman 2001.R.20-25r
box 1, page 26 recto
Fatma, Daughter of the Turkish Hassan in the Quarter Sour and Es-Settara 7, 30 Years Old 2001.R.20-26r
box 1, page 26 verso
Algierian Woman in City Attire 2001.R.20-26v
box 1, page 27 recto
Al-Hartania in Algiers 2001.R.20-27r
box 1, page 27 verso
Algierian Woman in City Attire 2001.R.20-27v
box 1, page 28 recto
Fatma, a Local Girl, 15 Years Old 2001.R.20-28r
box 1, page 28 verso
Woman of Algiers 2001.R.20-28v
box 1, page 29 recto
Girl of Algiers 2001.R.20-29r
box 1, page 29 verso
Yemina, Daughter of Bani Henna Tribe in Kabylia 2001.20.R-29v
box 1, page 31 verso
Painting by Lazerges, 1879 2001.R.20-31v
Scope and Contents
Reproduction of a painting by Jean-Raymond-Hippolyte Lazerges, depicting two women at a well.
box 1, page 32 recto
Behya 20 Years 2001.R.20-32r
box 1, page 32 verso
Woman of Algiers 2001.R.20-32v
box 1, page 33 recto
Fatma, Yenja Girl, Also Known as Fatma, Daughter of France, Quarter of Sidi Abdallah 40, 15 Years Old 2001.R.20-33r
box 1, page 33 verso
Fatma, Daughter of France 2001.R.20-33v
box 1, page 34 recto
Fatma, Daughter of France 2001.R.20-34r
box 1, page 34 verso
Fatma of France 2001.R.20-34v
box 1, page 35 recto
Jawi, Daughter of Darmush, Neighborhood of Jemaa, Al-Mafrun, 23 Years Old 2001.R.20-35r
Scope and Contents
Judeo-Arabic caption: Joya, daughter of Darmush.
box 1, page 35 verso
Najma of Algeria 2001.R.20-35v
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic. Najma=star.
box 1, page 36 recto
[Young Woman] 2001.R.20-36r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic (not translated).
box 1, page 36 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-36v
box 1, page 37 recto
[Woman] 2001.R.20-37r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 37 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-37v
box 1, page 38 recto
[Woman] 2001.R.20-38r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 38 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-38v
box 1, page 39 recto
[Woman] 2001.R.20-39r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 39 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-39v
box 1, page 40 recto
Ashtar Daughter of Malili the Algerian 2001.R.20-40r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic. Esther?
box 1, page 40 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-40v
box 1, page 41 recto
Ashtar 2001.R.29-41r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 42 recto
"I Didn't Know Your Name at All..." 2001.R.20-42r
Scope and Contents
Title continues: I asked [?] and was told [it is] Zahri / From the day I knew you / you have dug my grave. Caption in Judeo-Arabic;
possibly words of a song.
box 1, page 42 verso
[Blank page] 2001.R.20-42v
box 1, page 43 recto
Zahri 2001.R.20-43r
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 43 verso
People and Soldiers of Tunis 2001.R.20-43v
Scope and Contents
Four images: two of men,; two of women.
box 1, page 44 recto
Kabyle Woman 2001.R.20-44r
box 1, page 44 verso
Women of Tunisia 2001.R.20-44v
Scope and Contents
Four images; caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 45 recto
Woman of the Sahara 2001.R.20-45r
box 1, page 45 verso
A Tunisian Woman 2001.R.20-45v
Scope and Contents
Caption in Judeo-Arabic.
box 1, page 46 recto
Nai'li Women - Baraka and Zinja 2001.R.20-46r
Scope and Contents
Ouled Naïl women.
box 1, page 46 verso
Shop; Coffeehouse; Marketplace; Street in Tunisia 2001.R.20-46v
Scope and Contents
Four images.
box 1, page 48 verso
Algerian Woman 2001.R.20-48v
box 1, page 49 recto
The Kaid Ben Diriss 2001.R.20-49r
Scope and Contents
Of Ouargla?
box 1, page 49 verso
Chaouch Ben Diriss 2001.R.20-49v
Scope and Contents
A first-level administrator.
box 1, page 50 recto
Lioness of Sidi Ben Ouda Visiting Algiers 2001.R.20-50r
box 1, page 50 verso
Touareg Man 2001.R.20-50v
box 1, page 51 verso
Touareg Man 2001.R.20-51v