Recreating history: Jacques Cartier and the Pearl Trading families of Bahrain

Francesca Cartier Brickell discusses her discovery of a historic 1910 photograph of her ancestor Jacques Cartier with prominent Bahraini pearl merchants, including families named Kanoo, Al-Fardan, Matta, and Ibrahim. Over a century later, she tracked down the descendants of these merchants and recreated the original photograph, finding that while the 1910 image showed serious expressions, the modern recreation was filled with laughter and warmth. Cartier Brickell reflects on how the business relationships Jacques established with these pearl trading families evolved beyond commerce into genuine respect and admiration, and how that connection continues to resonate across generations and cultures today.