Zuilen van de Al-Aqsamoskee before 1878

Félix Bonfils captured these images of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on albumen paper in the late 19th century. The photograph presents a study in contrasts and perspective. The colonnade, with its receding arches, draws the eye into an infinite play of light and shadow, while the symmetrical composition provides a structured view into the architectural space. Bonfils's play with linear perspective creates a sense of depth that invites contemplation. The contrast between the solid columns and the open space between them challenges fixed notions of structure and form. In its careful arrangement of elements, this photograph functions as a study of visual syntax, questioning the relationship between what is seen and how it is interpreted. Bonfils not only captures the Al-Aqsa Mosque but also presents us with a means to interpret the cultural and historical dimensions of the space.