Gezicht op het klooster Mar Saba in het Kidron-dal c. 1867 - 1877

Editor: So, here we have Félix Bonfils's "View of the Mar Saba Monastery in the Kidron Valley," sometime between 1867 and 1877. It's an albumen print. There’s something so still and timeless about it…it feels like peering into another world. What leaps out at you when you see this work? Curator: It whispers tales of resilience to me. Nestled within that formidable landscape, the monastery presents itself as an embodiment of persistence and quiet defiance, don't you think? Bonfils captured not just the structure but a dialogue between humanity and nature. I imagine him wrestling with the light, the tones, trying to freeze a moment of eternity… he probably even used this image to process an image of his place and time as well. I wonder what those monks were thinking about while this photograph was taken? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but it definitely feels… purposeful. Like the monastery is deliberately part of the scenery. It almost looks like it was carved right out of the rock face. Curator: Precisely! And the deliberate composition only heightens that feeling. Notice the balance he strikes? The built environment and natural surroundings harmonize perfectly. Think about the faith needed to carve lives out of that landscape. Bonfils immortalized that faith, and perhaps, a little bit of his own too, through his artistry. It’s interesting to observe that faith, which may come off as dogmatic to modern views, is actually intimately entangled with personal doubts and inquiries! Editor: That’s such a rich interpretation. Now I’m seeing this piece in a completely new light. Thanks so much! Curator: The pleasure was all mine! It is inspiring to see new generations explore these landscapes!