Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Principal Entrance, Jerusalem 1854

Editor: This photograph by Auguste Salzmann captures the principal entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The starkness of the image gives it such a powerful, almost haunting feel. What can you tell me about this image from a historical perspective? Curator: Salzmann’s photographs are fascinating documents. He was commissioned to photograph the Holy Land, and his work became entangled with French political and religious ambitions in the region. Editor: How so? Curator: His photographs, with their seemingly objective record of the architecture, were used to bolster claims and narratives about Western cultural and religious heritage in Jerusalem. Editor: So, the photographs weren't just art; they were tools? Curator: Precisely. They played a role in constructing a particular view of the region and its history, influencing both public opinion and policy. It makes you consider the politics inherent in any image, doesn’t it? Editor: It certainly does. I'll never look at historical photographs the same way again!