Interieur van de Geboortekerk in Bethlehem 1867 - 1885

Félix Bonfils made this albumen print of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem sometime before his death in 1885. Its serene depiction of the church's interior belies the complex social context in which it was produced. Bonfils was part of a wave of Western photographers who flocked to the Middle East in the 19th century. They sought to document biblical sites, catering to European and American audiences eager for visual confirmation of their religious beliefs. But this coincided with a period of intense colonial interest in the region. Photography, then, became entangled with the politics of representation, reinforcing Western perspectives and power dynamics. To fully understand this image, we can research the history of photography, European colonialism in Palestine, and the rise of religious tourism. By examining these interwoven histories, we can better understand the complex meanings embedded within this seemingly straightforward photograph. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.