Zeven gezichten op Bethlehem en omgeving, Israël before 1898

Curator: This photographic print is entitled "Zeven gezichten op Bethlehem en omgeving, Israël," or "Seven Views of Bethlehem and its Surroundings, Israel." It was created before 1898, attributed to Ernest Diehl. What's your first take? Editor: My immediate feeling is of fragmentation. It is more of a collage of memories, or snapshots, rather than one cohesive picture. I notice how the differing orientations disrupt any serene expectation we might have of a historical scene. Curator: That sense of fragmentation feels key. The artist utilizes collotype and albumen prints, assembling multiple images of Bethlehem within a single frame, perhaps mirroring the layered and complex historical narratives embedded within the city itself. I would argue it reveals the complexity, not just of a place, but the diverse lived experiences within it. Editor: I agree. The style speaks volumes, it's far from a straightforward documentary approach. Arranging the images in this way really forces us to consider not just the subject but also the act of seeing, or the way we construct history through selected viewpoints, much like nation-building itself. It makes you wonder whose Bethlehem is being represented and who benefits from that narrative? Curator: Indeed. These types of landscapes at the time were extremely popular and very politically charged, acting as subtle symbols of control. Consider this work's place within larger historical dynamics: European colonialism, the burgeoning field of photography, and the construction of religious and national identities are brought to bear. We have to ask: how might this image be interpreted through, say, a postcolonial lens? Editor: It’s important to ask. The artist, through this deliberate manipulation of perspective and format, presents a multilayered depiction, reflecting the very real socio-political layers within Bethlehem itself. We see ruins, the bustling square, almost banal daily life of the local inhabitants. Perhaps a subversive act to emphasize that the city, beyond its religious image, is inhabited by ordinary people. Curator: Yes, a critical reading urges us to question what this album page does and to whom. A simple photograph this is not. Editor: Exactly, and I would urge listeners to resist the temptation to see it as one, too.