Gezicht op Mekka 1889

This is a monochrome photograph titled "Gezicht op Mekka" by Abd al-Ghaffar. The composition presents a high-angle view of Mecca, densely packed with buildings that cascade towards the foreground. The structures, rendered in varying tones of grey, create a textured, almost topographical map of the city, with mountains rising in the background. The photograph uses a structured arrangement to convey a sense of order and vastness. The uniform tonality across the buildings suggests a homogenizing effect, yet closer inspection reveals a complex network of forms and shadows, indicating a deeper, more intricate system at play. This structured form invites consideration of power and representation. The photograph, therefore, functions as both a document and an interpretation, inviting us to consider the interplay between the observed and the constructed.