The Bible and the Image: the history of photography in the Holy Land 1839 - 1899

"The structure of this book reflects three major lines of interest : the establishment of a precise chronology and a fundamental history of early photography in the Holy Land; the analysis of cultural, social, economic, and political biases that have informed photographic production; and the detection of characteristic trends in photography within the preindustrial context of an underdeveloped country. The particular conditions under which photography was introduced into such contexts demand a shift in focus, one offered here, I believe for the first time, a shift that entails taking into account the special sociocultural and economic factors prevalent in these environments."--Préface et remerciements.