Waterkanaal in de Generalife te Granada c. 1875 - 1900

Juan Laurent captured this albumen print, *Waterkanaal in de Generalife te Granada*, during a period of significant change in Spain, as photography was becoming a tool to document and promote national identity. This image of the Generalife gardens isn't just a landscape; it reflects a fascination with Spain’s Moorish past, particularly in Andalusia. The Generalife, with its intricate water systems and lush gardens, embodies a romantic vision of Moorish sophistication and leisure. Laurent's choice to focus on the water canal invites us to consider themes of purity, life, and continuity, all within a space designed for pleasure and contemplation. How does Laurent, a Frenchman, frame this space for a Spanish and international audience? The photograph suggests both an embrace of cultural heritage and perhaps a subtle commentary on the shifts in power and identity within 19th-century Spain. It makes you consider the layers of history and representation embedded in spaces we often perceive as simply beautiful or serene.