Abstract: Genre/Subject Matter:This landscape view shows ‘the pilgrims’ station, Muzdal’fah, situated between Muna (Mina) and ‘Arafah’. Muzdal’fah is a station of the hadj, where pilgrims camp gather on the 9th of
Dhul-Hijjah, as can be seen in this image.Here pilgrims pray, perform
wuquf(standing before God) and may collect stones for the stoning of the Jamarat at Mina (Muna). Left of centre, along the horizon, a lone white-washed structure, featuring a minaret, appears to be the only building on the plain. Just below the horizon, groups of people and trains of camels to the right and left of the image are visible. A group stands with their backs to the camera in the foreground. Either mist or over-exposure has rendered the horizon blurry. In the far distance ridges of hills are visible, however.The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality, particularly in the background and around the three figures to the left in the foreground.Arabic script written directly into the image has been erased subtly, but is visible upon close inspection in the lower centre of the image as well as in the central sky area of the image.Inscriptions:Above image, on the right, in ink: ‘XII’Temporal Context:According to Durkje van der Wal in his publication
Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje: The First Western Photographer in Mecca, 1884-1885(Amsterdam : Manfred & Hanna Heiting Fund, Rijksmuseum, 2011, pp. 43-51), the photographs in this publication that pertain to the hadj (this image included) likely date to August 1888 since this was the period of the last hadj before February 1889, the date Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje received the final consignment of images.Physical description: Dimensions:190 x 245 mmFormat:Collotype print, pasted into volumeCondition:The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions throughout.Foliation:‘XII’Process:Collotype
Abstract: Genre/Subject MatterThis image shows the city of Mecca from an elevated position due east of the Masjid al-Haram, or Grand Mosque. Parts of the city due north of the Masjid al-Haram are visible in the middleground.A large two-storey, fortified building is situated immediately below the horizon on the foothills of the northern ridge, to the far left of the image: this is the same building noted in X463/4.A sloping bank of scree make up the lower right foreground and middleground, while in the distant background a chain of hills is visible.This is the fourth of four photographs taken from the same vantage point, which form a panoramic view over the city of Mecca. The first, second and third are X463/2, X463/3 and X463/4 respectively.The negative has had hand-work applied, creating a drawing-like quality in places.InscriptionsAbove image, on the right, in ink: ‘V’Lower centre and upper centre: illegible, partially erased Arabic scriptPhysical description: Dimensions:189 x 243 mmFormat:Collotype print, pasted into volumeCondition:The print is in good condition with minor surface dirt and light abrasions, though no surface losses in the lower right of centre.Foliation:‘V’Process:Collotype