Baalbek-General view of the ruins from the South-west before 1866

Francis Bedford produced this albumen print of Baalbek from the south-west in the mid-19th century. His photographs of the Middle East were made during a time when the West was increasingly interested in documenting and studying ancient cultures. As we observe this general view of the ruins, consider the power dynamics at play. Bedford, a British photographer, captures the remnants of a once-great civilization. The photograph reflects a colonial gaze, framing the ruins as objects of Western interest and study rather than as part of a living, continuous history. The faded grandeur of the columns stands in stark contrast to the ambitions of Bedford's contemporaries, who sought to chart and, in many ways, claim ownership over these distant lands through their artistic and scientific endeavors. Bedford’s work exists as both a historical record and a reminder of the complex relationships between the West and the Middle East. The image evokes a sense of loss and transformation, reflecting the shifting sands of time and the enduring impact of cultural exchange and imperial ambition.