Jérusalem, Vue générale de la Vallée de Hinnom 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann made this photograph of the Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem using the salted paper process. This early photographic technique involved coating paper with silver nitrate and salt, exposing it to light through a negative, resulting in a soft, textured image. The appeal of this process lies in its directness. The final print embodies the material qualities of paper and silver, subtly rendering tones and textures, almost like a drawing. Salzmann meticulously chose his vantage point, carefully composing the image to convey a sense of place and history. Photography in this era represented a new industrialization of seeing, an ability to capture and reproduce images with unprecedented accuracy. However, the salted paper process was far from automated. It required hands-on skill in preparing the chemicals, coating the paper, and controlling the exposure and development. In considering this image, we recognize that craft and industry are never truly separate; human skill always mediates the machine.