Interior of the Hall of Columns Possibly 1857 - 1862

This albumen silver print of the Interior of the Hall of Columns was made by Francis Frith, who lived from 1822 to 1898. Frith was one of the first British photographers to travel extensively in the Middle East. The albumen print process itself involves coating paper with a layer of egg white before applying a silver nitrate solution, making it sensitive to light. The resulting photographs have a characteristic warm tone and smooth surface. In this image, the choice of albumen silver print accentuates the grandeur and scale of the Hall, emphasizing the contrast between light and shadow, and the texture of the ancient stonework. The photograph not only captures a historical moment, but also reflects the colonial context of the time, where the documentation of distant lands was intertwined with imperial interests. The photograph serves as a document of labor, showing the amount of work involved in creating these images. In this way, Frith’s photograph blurs the boundaries between documentation, artistry, and the socio-political landscape of its time.