[Constantine, Algeria] 1853 - 1854

John Beasley Greene made this photograph of Constantine, Algeria, using the collodion process, a technique that allowed for detailed and evocative landscape depictions. Greene, an American traveling through French-colonized Algeria, captured this view with an eye trained on the picturesque. Consider how this image operates within the complex dynamics of colonialism. Greene’s gaze, as a Western photographer, frames the Algerian landscape for a European audience, subtly reinforcing colonial power structures through representation. The absence of local people in this image, despite Constantine's rich cultural history, speaks volumes about whose stories are being told and whose are being erased. The cascading water, rendered in tones of gray, invites a moment of contemplation. But it also prompts us to reflect on the historical and political contexts that shaped both the creation and reception of this photograph. Greene’s photograph is a poignant reminder of the power of images to shape perceptions and perpetuate ideologies.