Nestled in the Jeddah Park, the Al-Makkatain Museum traces the history of the two holy cities, Makkah and Madinah, through historical drawings by both Muslim and non-Muslim artists over the past five centuries, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
To provide vivid images about both cities, the museum also features the photographic history of the cities from the earliest known images taken in 1297 AH (1880 CE) to the present day.
The Al-Makkatain Museum boasts three main halls:
- Before the Invention of the Camera (1550–1880)
- Early Photographers of Makkah and Madinah (1880–1920)
- The Golden Age of Photography (1920–Present)
Interestingly, the museum showcases significant drawings that date back to the era before the invention of photography in 1839 and its widespread adoption in Europe.
At that time, travelers, orientalists, and artists used to convey their perceptions of the Two Holy Mosques through illustrations. They etched their details onto hard surfaces such as copper and metal.
Before the step of publishing the drawings, professional artists used to add some artistic touches to the original works to make them more appropriate for printing. Consequently, the printed versions were a little bit or greatly different from the original illustrations.
On the contrary, photographs offered an accurate visual record of what the photographers actually saw and checked. Therefore, photographs stand out as a documentary testimony of a specific era, place, and customs that have undergone many changes over time. Overall, they form a realistic visual memory for viewers.
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