Omslag voor 20 fotomechanische afdrukken van gezichten in Mekka 1889

This is a book cover by Abd al-Ghaffar, designed to hold twenty photomechanical prints of faces in Mecca. The cover is made from densely matted paperboard, dyed a terracotta red. On the cover, the title and a pictorial vignette are printed in gold leaf. The camel and rider imply a sense of place, but the real story is in the photomechanical prints held within. Abd al-Ghaffar was not only an artist but also an image-maker, using photography – a relatively new technology at the time – to document the faces of people he encountered. Consider how this project blurs the lines between art and craft. The book cover is a utilitarian object, but the gold leaf and careful composition elevate it to something more. And the photographs themselves are both documentary and artistic, capturing the faces of a particular time and place. It is a reminder that materials, making, and context are all essential to understanding the full meaning of any artwork.