Jérusalem, Tombeau de Salomon, Détails 1854 - 1859

This photograph of what is believed to be Solomon’s tomb was taken by Auguste Salzmann sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. It is a salt print, an early photographic process involving paper soaked in silver nitrate and salt. The image is striking for its stark tones and the rough texture of the stone. The salt print process, while capable of capturing intricate details, also emphasizes the materiality of the subject. Salzmann's choice of this medium highlights the hard, unforgiving labor required to construct this architecture. We see the marks of the stonemasons: chisel marks, uneven surfaces, the sheer mass of the blocks that form the walls. Beyond its religious significance, the image speaks to the sheer effort involved in monumental construction. It reminds us that behind every grand structure are countless hours of human toil, often performed by those whose names and stories are lost to history. In looking closely at the materiality of the photograph, and the monument, we appreciate the image as more than just a record of a place.