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Old city Jerusalem (2014 - 2024)
Enclosed by ancient walls lies Jerusalem’s heart, a place where history and culture hold profound weight: the “Old City”.
Coined in the 19th century, this term distinguishes this ancient district from the “New City,” which began to rise beyond the walls during the same period.
Throughout history, visitors and pilgrims have been captivated by the unique holiness and religious atmosphere of the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem. To commemorate their visits, some have expressed their thoughts and experiences through drawings or paintings, while others have recorded their impressions in writing. Despite the wealth of literature about Jerusalem, even the most comprehensive accounts struggle to fully capture the city’s essence and atmosphere, conveying the true feeling of the place alongside its complexity.
The advent of photography in the 19th century marked a turning point in the city’s documentation. Early photographic efforts, constrained by technological limitations such as long exposure times and slow film speeds, primarily focused on static subjects like topography and sacred sites, serving mainly as visual souvenirs for pilgrims.
As photographic technology advanced, so did the scope of Jerusalem’s visual representation. The ability to capture the city’s dynamic life with increasing precision offered unprecedented insights into its multifaceted existence. Photographers began to document the daily rhythms of the city, its diverse inhabitants, and the intricate details of its urban fabric.
The 20th century witnessed photography evolve into a powerful tool for both chronicling and shaping Jerusalem’s identity. Photographers explored the city’s diverse neighborhoods, documenting their architectural and cultural nuances alongside delving into the lives of Jerusalem’s inhabitants. These photographers bore witness to pivotal historical events, their images becoming integral to the collective memory of the city’s tumultuous journey.
