Jérusalem, Église Sainte-Anne, Façade 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann made this photograph of the facade of the Church of Saint Anne in Jerusalem using the salted paper process. This image creates meaning through its stark representation of a historical and holy site in the mid-19th century. In this period, there was growing European interest in the ‘Orient’ and photography played a key role in shaping Western perceptions of these distant lands. Salzmann's choice to focus on the architecture, rather than the people or landscapes, reflects a desire to document and preserve the historical significance of the region. This was reinforced by institutions like the French government who sponsored photographic missions to the area. In understanding this artwork, historians can consult travel accounts, architectural surveys, and colonial records. This image reveals the complex interplay between artistic vision, colonial interests, and the politics of representation in the 19th century.