Gezicht op huizen aan de westelijke rand van de Tyropoeon vallei en een gezicht op Goliath's toren in het noordwesten van Jeruzalem before 1865

James McDonald created this photographic print of Jerusalem. The composition is split into two distinct sections: one with houses and another with Goliath's Tower, each framed in a rounded rectangle. The photograph utilizes a monochromatic palette, which emphasizes the textures and forms of the ancient structures. The detailed rendering of stone and masonry invites contemplation on the themes of time and decay. Notice the contrasting spatial arrangement in the two images. The houses along the valley’s edge display linear and structured design, whereas the tower shows irregular and organic shapes, highlighting the dialogue between natural erosion and built structure. McDonald's photograph can be understood through the lens of structuralism, which seeks to find underlying systems of relationships. In this case, the relationship between architecture and landscape, permanence and impermanence. This artwork encourages us to examine not just what is seen, but the underlying codes that shape our understanding of history, place, and representation.