Hoek van het Mirador de Lindaraja in het Alhambra c. 1860 - 1900

Curator: This photograph, titled "Hoek van het Mirador de Lindaraja in het Alhambra," was captured by F. Linares sometime between 1860 and 1900. It's an albumen print, a popular photographic process during that era. What's your initial take on it? Editor: I'm struck by its ethereal quality. It feels like peering into a memory, the details so intricate yet softened by time. It's melancholic, in a way. Does that resonate with you? Curator: Absolutely. The albumen process lends itself to that dreamlike atmosphere. Notice how the photographer frames the corner of the Mirador, emphasizing the Moorish architecture's complex geometric patterns and the delicate stuccowork. It almost overwhelms the senses. Semiotically, one might interpret this abundance of ornamentation as a display of power or a connection to a spiritual realm. Editor: Or perhaps a celebration of craft. All those tessellated designs look hypnotic! Imagine the sheer human hours it must have taken to bring this level of detail to life. Knowing its Orientalist roots, I also see a European gaze romanticizing the exotic "other," particularly through the lens of Islamic art. Curator: Indeed. Orientalism in photography often served as a form of visual appropriation. While celebrating its beauty, it’s vital to consider the inherent power dynamics at play. And it looks to be framed as the only area of life for Islamic people which seems unfair but is part of its beauty. It also offers views through arched windows into lush greenery. Does it seem odd to you that he decided not to incorporate the lush landscape in any great extent, what impact do you think it was trying to create, I mean...aside from a purely ornamental framing? Editor: You’re right to hone in on the view; it appears almost secretive as only the edges can be truly noticed and therefore leaves me looking. I love what this adds! But it is not enough to truly have an experience outside of the ornamentation Curator: This photograph invites us to delve beyond the image's aesthetic appeal and explore the historical, cultural, and even political dimensions ingrained within its delicate surface. It is a unique combination and display in architecture which helps you stay looking at the detail, without wanting anything else. Editor: For me, it serves as a lovely prompt of curiosity, one that makes me reflect both on my own viewing habits and consider what other narratives it hides beyond plain sight.