Tien gezichten op Damascus, Syrië before 1898

“Tien gezichten op Damascus, Syrië” or “Ten faces of Damascus, Syria” is an undated compilation of photographs by diverse makers, offering glimpses into life in Damascus. These images, presented in a grid, capture landscapes, cityscapes, and scenes of daily life. There's a tension here between the desire to document and the potential to exoticize. The gaze of the photographer, likely a Westerner, shapes how we see this place and its people. What stories do these images tell, and whose voices are missing? Are these images meant to inform, to entice travel, or something else entirely? Each photograph offers a fragmented view, a piece of a larger, more complex puzzle. Together, they construct a narrative of Damascus that reflects the perspectives and biases of their creators, inviting us to consider the power dynamics inherent in visual representation. It makes you wonder: What does it mean to capture a place through the lens of another, and how does that affect our understanding of the world?