Zuilen van de Al-Aqsamoskee before 1878

"Zuilen van de Al-Aqsamoskee" (Pillars of the Al-Aqsa Mosque) is a photographic albumen print by Félix Bonfils, dating back to before 1878. This image, now in the Rijksmuseum, captures two views. On the left, we see the interior of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, showcasing its impressive columns and arches. The right side depicts the surrounding landscape, offering a glimpse of the mosque's location within its context. This artwork represents the 19th-century fascination with documenting distant lands, particularly those with rich historical and religious significance, through the lens of photography. Bonfils, a renowned photographer of the Middle East, specialized in capturing such scenes, creating a valuable record of these locations for future generations.