Jérusalem, Porte de Mograbins 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann made this photograph of the Gate of the Moors in Jerusalem using the calotype process. This early photographic technique, predating the use of glass negatives, involved coating paper with silver iodide. What's compelling here is the way that this fairly rudimentary process, which seems so distant from our contemporary world of digital photography, in fact imbues the image with its enduring power. Look closely at the rough, almost pixilated texture of the stone wall. This is a direct result of the way the image was captured on the treated paper. Also consider the social context. Photography at this time was often used for documentation and exploration, Salzmann’s images served as visual records, contributing to European understanding and representation of the region, and you could say, subtly reinforcing existing power structures. So, while it looks simple, this image is a potent mix of technique, materiality and historical forces.