Gezicht op de tombe van Absalom te Jeruzalem before 1875

This is Francis Frith's photograph, "View of Absalom's Tomb in Jerusalem.” Frith, a Quaker, embarked on several journeys to the Middle East between 1856 and 1860, driven by both commercial and personal motivations. His photographs provided Europeans with their first intimate glimpses of the region, which fueled Western fascination with the "Orient." Yet, this fascination came with the baggage of colonial attitudes and a romanticized vision of the East. Look closely at how Frith frames the tomb against the stark landscape. What does it tell us about the relationship between the photographer, his subject, and the intended audience? While he aimed to document, his work inevitably reflects the power dynamics inherent in the act of seeing and representing another culture. The photograph is more than just an image; it is a historical document that reveals the complex interplay between exploration, representation, and cultural encounter. It invites us to consider how we perceive and understand cultures different from our own.