Jérusalem, Casque trouvé dans le Jourdain, 1 1854 - 1859

Auguste Salzmann made this salt print, titled "Jerusalem, Helmet found in the Jordan," sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. Salzmann, a French archeologist, was commissioned to photograph the Holy Land and provide visual evidence supporting French claims to religious sites. Here, a helmet fragment is presented in a way that emphasizes its form and texture, as well as its assumed historical significance. The helmet, an object associated with war and protection, appears to be displaced, having been extracted from its original context and now presented as a relic. This raises questions about the narratives we construct around objects of the past, and how we assign meaning to them. The photograph invites reflection on themes of conflict, identity, and cultural heritage. It prompts us to consider the role of photography in shaping perceptions of history, and the emotional weight carried by objects touched by time.