Jérusalem. (Environs) Montagne de Sion. Cenacle et Maison de Caiphe. 1860

Louis de Clercq made this photograph of Jerusalem using a calotype, an early photographic process, sometime in the mid-19th century. It shows the city as a place where multiple religious and cultural traditions intersect. We see the mountain of Zion, sacred in Judaism, with structures associated with both the Christian Last Supper, and the house of the Jewish high priest Caiaphas. The image was made during a period of increasing European interest in the Middle East, partly fueled by religious and colonial ambitions. Photography played a crucial role in shaping Western perceptions of these lands, often reinforcing existing stereotypes or romanticized views. De Clercq, as a French photographer, was part of this broader movement, documenting the region through his lens. His work reflects both a fascination with the historical and religious significance of the sites, and the politics of representation inherent in the act of photographing a place with such a complex past and present. To truly understand this image, we need to consider its historical context and the power dynamics at play during its creation.