ABSTRACT
Frank Scholten’s journey to the Emirate of Transjordan occurred during a time of political, territorial, and social transformation. His photographs capture the tension between biblical imagery and an evolving urban society. Scholten took a documentary approach to depicting taxonomic portraits, urban landscapes, and religious transformation. His innovative visual method presents Transjordan as a modern Holy Land, offering a detailed exploration of its material culture and local figures. Scholten’s kaleidoscopic vision and thematic diversity create a pictorial lexicon of Transjordan as a contemporary Gilead, blending tradition with modernity. His work contrasts with earlier visual representations and offers a fresh perspective on the region’s evolving identity.
