Hof van Getsemane op de Olijfberg bij Jeruzalem Possibly 1862 - 1863

Francis Bedford made this albumen print of the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, in the mid-19th century. The image evokes the Biblical scene where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion, a site of profound religious and historical significance. Bedford, as a commercial photographer in England, catered to a market keen on acquiring images from distant lands. The print offers a glimpse into the British fascination with the Holy Land, fueled by religious fervor and colonial interests. The composition frames the garden almost as a staged scene, emphasizing its accessibility and perhaps even its possession by the Western gaze. To truly understand this photograph, one needs to delve into the history of 19th-century British Orientalism and religious tourism. Researching travelogues and colonial records from the period could reveal the complex social, political, and religious dynamics at play in the creation and reception of such images. This approach highlights how art is not made in a vacuum, but is deeply embedded in specific cultural and historical moments.