Put van Job, nabij Jeruzalem c. 1867 - 1877

Félix Bonfils made this albumen print, titled "Put van Job, nabij Jeruzalem," at some point in the second half of the 19th century. This photograph presents us with more than just a depiction of a well near Jerusalem; it's a window into the visual culture of its time. Consider the context: in the late 1800s, photography was not just a means of documentation, but also a tool of colonial vision. Bonfils, a Frenchman working in the Middle East, catered to a European audience eager for images of the ‘Orient’. This photograph, like many others, participates in the construction of an imagined Holy Land, emphasizing its ancient ruins and biblical associations. The very act of photographing and naming the site ‘Put van Job’ frames it within a Western, Christian narrative. To fully understand this image, we need to consult travel accounts, missionary records, and colonial archives. By doing so, we can better understand the complex relationship between the photographer, his audience, and the land he depicted.