Straat in Jeruzalem 1867 - 1885

Curator: Fèlix Bonfils’ "Straat in Jeruzalem," likely created between 1867 and 1885, captures a slice of life in the Holy Land. The Rijksmuseum is fortunate to house this beautiful gelatin-silver print, but it was originally also made as an albumen print. What catches your eye initially? Editor: A powerful sense of stillness. Despite the implied activity of the street, it feels caught in amber, a relic of another time. It's visually compelling, though—the way the light spills down those steps... Curator: Light is pivotal here. Bonfils’ skillful use of light and shadow leads the eye, accentuating the architectural details and the textures of the stone. Notice how he uses the contrast to bring a feeling of depth to the scene, pulling you into the city. It's an Orientalist's perspective, carefully constructed for a Western audience, mind you. Editor: True, it’s not a gritty documentary; there is an element of romanticism at play. But consider the composition itself—the receding lines converging at the top of the street, punctuated by the minaret, act as strong visual cues. The symmetry is broken by the figures to give it the spontaneity it requires to look like a natural street. The photograph gains a peculiar balance. What are your thoughts? Curator: It makes me ponder the gazes – both Bonfils’ and ours. As viewers, we participate in this historical moment, but removed, changed. We see this captured slice, yet it holds an entire, complicated society in its frame. Each figure frozen yet full of life… The clothing textures, a play of light and darkness within each draped robe... Do you see how each person contributes something individual to this? This simple record allows all. Editor: The technical expertise Bonfils displays is not often praised enough. But you are right, there's a sense of narrative implied despite it still being static. Now that my attention has shifted, it really seems each face is like an unspoken question of ours, in an invitation to explore our preconceptions... Curator: Preconceptions or curiosities. This work whispers of a place and time we might never fully grasp, and in its quiet way, begs questions of what and who we notice, within the simple structure itself. It's history, art, and silent musing. Editor: Agreed. There's more than meets the eye upon first viewing. A rewarding experience if one pauses.