Jérusalem, Enceinte du Temple, Piscine probatique, 2 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann captured this albumen print of Jerusalem in the mid-19th century, a period marked by burgeoning photographic technology and profound shifts in colonialism. The albumen process, which coats paper in egg white to create a glossy surface for the silver salts, was extremely labor-intensive and highlights the intersection of photography and craft. Look at the tonal range and crisp detail achieved through this meticulous printing method, an aesthetic far removed from our contemporary digital snapshots. Salzmann's choice of subject is important: Jerusalem's Temple Mount, a site of layered histories and contested sacred spaces. Salzmann, commissioned to provide visual evidence to support French archaeological endeavors in the region, has created a document of place and time. His photographs reflect the politics of representation inherent in early photography, as well as the West's fascination with the “Orient.” In short, this isn’t just a picture, it's a potent mix of science, art, and politics, all mediated through the laborious process of early photography.