St. Stephen's Gate, Jerusalem 1857

Editor: This striking photograph, "St. Stephen's Gate, Jerusalem" by Robertson and Beato, really emphasizes the weight and texture of the stone. What draws your eye when you look at this image? Curator: I see the tangible effects of labor. Think about the quarrying, the transport, the shaping of those stones. This isn't just a gate; it's a testament to immense human effort and the social structures that enabled it. How does the gate's construction speak to its purpose? Editor: I suppose the sheer scale and solidity would have been very imposing. It's clearly built to last. I hadn't really considered the people who built it before. Curator: Exactly! It invites us to reflect on the relationship between power, material, and the lives intertwined with its creation. Editor: I'll definitely look at photographs differently now. Thanks!