What Did Cambodia Look Like 150 Years Ago? Historic Photographs Go on Display in Phnom Penh

What did Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s royal family and ordinary people look like 150 years ago? A collection of rare historical photographs now offers the public a close look at Cambodia more than a century ago. According to the organisers of the 2026 Photo Phnom Penh festival, the exhibition “Portraits of Cambodia in the 19th Century” runs from October 22 to November 22 at the Bophana Center in Phnom Penh, presenting historical images taken by French photographer Émile Gsell in the 1860s and 1870s. Gsell was among the early photographers to document Cambodia. His work covers the monuments of Angkor Wat, members of the royal family, traditional dancers, musicians and ordinary people, depicting the social life, clothing and cultural features of the time. Some of the photographs of Angkor Wat were taken around 1870. More than 150 years later, these rare images not only preserve the monuments’ former appearance but also provide important material for research into Cambodia’s history and culture. The exhibition is part of the 17th Photo Phnom Penh festival. Under this year’s theme, “At Home in the World,” the festival presents photography exhibitions, lectures and exchanges at cultural venues across Phnom Penh. Through these old photographs, viewers can travel back in time, rediscover 19th-century Cambodia and experience the country’s distinctive history and culture.