Gezicht op de Rotskoepel in Jeruzalem 1900 - 1905

This is a stereograph, or a double photograph, of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and was made sometime in the late 19th century. It’s hard to tell what the artist was thinking, because it's an anonymous photograph, maybe a commercial product as much as it is an artwork. The tonality feels warm, like it was taken on a sunny day. There’s a very strong contrast between the white buildings and the dark shadows. It’s this contrast that gives the image its power. The building feels serene, as if it’s floating. The artist probably wanted to show off the building. It looks very well maintained, there are hardly any details. I wonder what it smelled like in that place, what kind of flowers were growing nearby. You know, this piece reminds me a bit of some of Agnes Martin’s paintings because of the architectural precision, but of course Martin was more abstract. Both artists focus on the details. Art is so exciting because it's always building on what came before. There are always new meanings waiting to be discovered.