Jardin de Gethsemani 1870s

Félix Bonfils made this albumen print, "Jardin de Gethsemani," sometime in the late 19th century. The photograph depicts the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, a site of profound religious significance, particularly within Christianity, as the place where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion. Bonfils was part of a wave of 19th-century photographers who captured the Middle East, often catering to European and American audiences interested in biblical landscapes and exotic locales. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, presenting an orderly, almost picturesque view of a place laden with religious meaning. It's worth considering how the act of photographing such a site, framing it for Western consumption, relates to broader colonial and orientalist dynamics of the time. Understanding the image requires considering the politics of imagery and how cultural and religious sites are represented and consumed. Further research into the market for such photographs and the social conditions that shaped Bonfils's work can deepen our understanding of its place in history.