Poort van de kathedraal van Granada c. 1850 - 1863

Editor: Here we have Charles Clifford's photograph, "Poort van de kathedraal van Granada," taken sometime between 1850 and 1863. The sepia tones give it such a timeless feel, almost like peering directly into the past. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: For me, it’s that silent conversation between the Islamic influences and the imposing architecture of the cathedral itself. Think about Granada’s history – the centuries of Moorish rule. Clifford, in capturing this doorway, is freezing a moment where those histories visibly collide, a dialogue etched in stone, almost daring us to unpack it. Don't you feel a certain… weightiness? Editor: I do! It feels like there are stories just waiting to be told within those walls. What about Clifford choosing photography for this? Wouldn't painting maybe convey the feeling more? Curator: Ah, but that's the kicker! Photography in the 19th century was still finding its voice. It’s both documentary – trying to record reality faithfully – and interpretive. Clifford's choices—the light, the angle—shape our understanding. It's not just *what* he photographed, but *how* he photographed it that speaks volumes. What I like to consider is how he has managed to extract poetry from such stern construction. Editor: I see! The photograph itself is making an argument. That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! Art always invites us to engage, to question, and to reimagine what we thought we knew. Thank you for your refreshing perspective, your curiosities, in turn, provoked new thoughts in me too.