Citadel Gate, Jerusalem 1854

Curator: Auguste Salzmann's photograph, Citadel Gate, Jerusalem, presents a stark and imposing structure, dating back to the mid-19th century. Editor: It has an undeniably somber and austere quality. The light, the rough stonework… it feels almost post-apocalyptic. Curator: Indeed, Salzmann made these images during a time of intense colonial interest in the region, reflecting a power dynamic through his lens. Editor: Right, and a discussion about how these images were deployed to frame the East in relation to Western sensibilities feels key here, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. Understanding photography's role in constructing and perpetuating cultural narratives is really at the heart of this image. Editor: It makes you think about whose gaze we're seeing Jerusalem through, even now. Curator: Precisely, an exercise in decolonizing the image, perhaps. Editor: Yes, a lens for challenging perceptions of identity, space and history.