General View of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem 1857

Editor: Here we have Robertson and Beato’s photograph, "General View of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem." It's a captivating landscape, but the print is aged, and I am not sure what to make of it. What historical context might illuminate this image for viewers? Curator: The image is less about the sepulchre itself, and more about European colonialism. Photographers like Robertson and Beato documented landscapes, architecture, and people in the Near East, often reinforcing a European perspective. Editor: So it’s about creating a visual record for a European audience. Did the European audience see these images as objective representations? Curator: That’s a great question. The power dynamics of the time certainly influenced how the world was perceived. Editor: This reframes my understanding entirely; I see the photograph differently now. Curator: Indeed, looking at it that way invites a deeper discussion about the image's role within the colonial project.