Gezicht op een landschap met bergen, aangeduid als Edom c. 1850 - 1865

This albumen silver print of a landscape with mountains, referred to as Edom, was made by Francis Frith. Frith was one of the first British photographers to travel in the Middle East. In the Victorian era, photography served not only as documentation but also as a tool for shaping perceptions of distant lands. Edom, now part of Jordan, held biblical significance, and Frith's work captured the spirit of exploration and discovery that defined the age. The photograph presents a stark, almost desolate landscape that may have been quite different from other images circulating back in Britain at the time. Understanding the social and institutional context is vital when viewing Frith's photographs. This image, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, has become part of a cultural and artistic heritage. To delve deeper, scholars consult travel journals, colonial records, and photographic archives, each shedding light on the complex relationship between art, history, and society.