Jérusalem, Sainte-Marie-la-Grande, Portail 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann captured this salt print of Jérusalem, Sainte-Marie-la-Grande, Portail. Salzmann, a French archeologist, made the image during an expedition to Jerusalem in the mid-1850s. During this period, photography was still a relatively new medium and was intertwined with colonial expansion and archeological exploration. These expeditions were very masculine endeavors and served to document and classify the world through a Western lens. In this image, we see the crumbling architecture of what was once a grand entrance. The stark contrast and detailed capture of the stone invite us to consider themes of decay, history, and the passage of time. What narratives do we prioritize when documenting history? Whose perspectives are valued, and whose are overlooked in these visual records? Salzmann’s photograph encourages us to reflect on how the act of seeing and documenting can both preserve and influence our understanding of cultural heritage.