Gezicht op de Tombe van de Maagd Maria en een gezicht op de tuin van Getsemane en Tombe van de Maagd Maria in het Kidrondal in Jeruzalem before 1865

This albumen silver print by James McDonald captures two views of Jerusalem in the 19th century, rendered in sepia tones. The photograph is divided into two distinct compositions, each offering a different perspective on sacred sites. Above, the imposing façade of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary dominates the frame. Its architectural form, with a weighty arched entrance, is composed of roughly hewn stone blocks. The geometry here is striking. The archway is a powerful symbol. Below, the Garden of Gethsemane unfolds as a terraced landscape. The contrasting perspectives of the two views create a dialogue, inviting us to contemplate the interplay between built and natural environments. McDonald's photograph is not merely a documentation of place, but an invitation to explore how the formal elements of photography—composition, perspective, and texture—shape our understanding of history.