Gezicht op Bethlehem before 1875

Francis Frith captured this view of Bethlehem, with a height of 104 mm and a width of 156 mm. The composition is divided, with the town on one side and a dark, undefined space on the other. This contrast creates a tension, challenging our perception of space. The lack of clear perspective destabilizes traditional landscape views, drawing attention to the formal arrangement of light and shadow rather than the subject itself. Frith invites us to reconsider how we perceive and represent the world. It prompts us to question the role of photography not merely as a recording tool but as a medium for exploring and questioning our understanding of reality and representation.