Jérusalem, Tombeau des rois de Juda, Encadrement de feuillages et de fruits 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann made this photograph of the Tomb of the Kings of Judah in Jerusalem using a paper negative. Salzmann was commissioned to produce images that supported French claims to religious guardianship in the Holy Land during a period of intense European interest in the region. His photographs became enmeshed in the politics of identity and representation. Salzmann, as a European Christian, framed his view of Jerusalem. We can see the Tomb’s architectural details, but the cultural narratives of the local communities are noticeably absent. This absence prompts us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being erased. Salzmann’s work offers a window into the past, but also invites critical reflection on the power dynamics inherent in image-making and historical narratives. It reminds us that photographs are never neutral; they carry the weight of the photographer’s perspective and the socio-political context in which they were created.