Name/Title
"View at Hebron" (1857)Entry/Object ID
2019.002aTags
On View, Bayt wa BaladDescription
A certified printed copy of Francis Frith's “View at Hebron” (1857). The photograph depicts Hebron in 1857 from the view of a European tourist. Some argue that Frith's photography lent to the colonialist narrative that Palestine was “a people without land and a land without people,” frequently showcasing “the Holy Land” through sweeping Biblical landscapes that appeared to be deserted. Hebron, or al-Khalil, is nestled in the hills south of Bethlehem and is famous for its centuries-old handwork in ceramics, glass, textiles and leather.
Despite this Biblical view of the Palestinian people, Frith's photography during the mid-nineteenth century was considered pioneering – rendered as a stunning portrayal of Palestinian architecture and landscape. “Frith photographed most of the key monuments several times, combining general views with close studies of their significant details and broader views of their landscape environment. The clarity of his images proved to be of immense value to archaeologists. The photographs are also often powerfully composed, revealing an understanding of the poetic qualities of light that gives them lasting aesthetic value” (McKenzie, Grove Art). Over a century later, Frith’s photography provides a case study into the photography of Palestine during the mid to late nineteenth century that perpetuated Biblification and Orientalism.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Albumen PrintSubject Person or Organization
Francis FrithCollection
Permanent CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1857Time Period
19th CenturyNotes
Frith & Hayward was a pioneering photographic studio established in Liverpool around 1850 by Francis Frith and his partner, Hayward. This partnership marked the early career of Frith, a prominent 19th-century photographer who later became renowned for his extensive travels and, in 1859, founded the F. Frith & Co. photographic publishing firm. This photograph, signed by the photographer in 1857 may reflect his earlier printing efforts prior to founding his publishing firm.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Makers MarkLocation
Bottom rightTranscription
"Frith's Photo 1857."Language
EnglishDimensions
Height
5-3/4 inWidth
8-1/2 inRelationships
Related Places
Notes
type: travel
date: 2019
certainty: precise
notes: The framed photograph was donated to the Museum of the Palestinian People.