Gezicht op de vallei van Nablus before 1878

Félix Bonfils created this albumen silver print titled "View of the Valley of Nablus" sometime between 1860 and 1880. The photograph is a study in contrasts, presenting two views of the valley in a diptych format. The composition in both images relies heavily on the interplay between light and shadow to define the landscape's contours and textures. The eye is drawn into the valley by the subtle gradations of tone, suggesting depth and distance. Bonfils' choice of the albumen silver process enriches the photograph with a delicate surface quality, which enhances the visual experience. This treatment encourages a reading of the image as not just a record of place, but as a study in visual form, offering a nuanced meditation on space, light, and the act of seeing itself. The symmetry and balance within each image invite us to consider the photograph as a constructed space.