Tombe van de Maagd Maria in Jeruzalem 1870 - 1895

C. and G. Zangaki made this albumen print of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem. It provides a window into the visual culture of the late 19th century. This image, with its sharp focus and careful composition, wasn’t merely documentation. Consider the rise of archaeological interest in the Holy Land at this time, which influenced the production and consumption of these images, and the marketing of these images to tourists, eager to possess a piece of the ‘authentic’ Holy Land. The inclusion of local figures gives scale and a sense of place, but also exoticizes the scene for a Western audience. To truly understand this photograph, we would need to delve into the archives of photographic studios, travel agencies, and missionary societies. The meaning of this image is contingent on the social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and consumed.