Straat in Jeruzalem naar de toren Phasaël 1867 - 1885

Curator: Looking at this gelatin-silver print from between 1867 and 1885, taken by Félix Bonfils, we see a scene titled "Straat in Jeruzalem naar de toren Phasaël," which translates to "Street in Jerusalem towards the tower Phasaël." Editor: It feels frozen, doesn’t it? A tableau vivant almost, everyone suspended mid-action on this ancient street. I'm struck by the contrast—the monumental architecture and the very human bustle of the marketplace. Curator: Bonfils was part of a wave of photographers documenting the Middle East for Western audiences. Consider the role of the Orientalist lens here. How might this photograph have shaped perceptions of Jerusalem and its inhabitants? Editor: Absolutely. There's an undeniable power dynamic at play. This image, while ostensibly capturing a 'slice of life', inevitably reflects the photographer's own biases and the expectations of his European audience. How might the realities of trade and daily life be obscured or romanticized? Who benefits from this form of representation? Curator: Precisely. Bonfils' work contributed to a visual archive that often exoticized the East, fitting it into pre-conceived notions. Yet, it's also important to see how photographs like these offer some insight into trade routes. Editor: Yes, it’s complex. We can simultaneously appreciate the technical skill, note its artistic intention and acknowledge the problematic historical context. The figures become signifiers as they perform for the photographer in that time and space. Who are they outside of this frame? What can we extract from the narrative through these people frozen in place? Curator: Indeed. Understanding the nuances and layered meanings present in this photograph encourages us to ask critical questions about representation, power, and cultural exchange in the 19th century. Editor: Agreed. It is so important to not assume this photo provides us an accurate, unfiltered perspective of Jerusalem at that time. To see it as an interpretation, is vital.