Vallée de Josaphat 1870s

Félix Bonfils captured this photograph, Vallée de Josaphat, using a process print. The warm sepia tones and the stark contrast create a textured visual field, drawing the eye across the rugged landscape. The composition guides us from the valley floor, dotted with ancient structures, towards the rising hills. Bonfils’s choice of perspective places us above the scene, granting a sense of overview and control. This elevated viewpoint flattens the space, emphasizing the textures of the earth and the built environment. The sepia tone flattens the color palette to emphasize the formal geometry within the depiction of the landscape, highlighting the relationship between nature and built environment. Consider how the photograph's form reflects the cultural interest in documenting and categorizing the world during this period. It isn't simply a record, but a carefully constructed representation, inviting us to consider how we perceive and understand space.