Ruïne van het Paleis van de Koopman ofwel Selçuklu Sarayi, Ani 1875 - 1885

Onnes Kurkdjian's undated photograph, "Ruïne van het Paleis van de Koopman ofwel Selçuklu Sarayi, Ani," presents a stark, monochromatic scene. The ruins command the composition, their crumbling forms jutting against a pale sky, evoking a sense of decay and the passage of time. The photograph's structure is defined by contrasts. Jagged edges of the ruined palace meet the loose, organic forms of the rocky hillside. This juxtaposition creates a tension, inviting us to consider the interplay between human construction and the natural world. The sepia tone reinforces a feeling of distance, both temporal and emotional, as if observing a world irrevocably lost. Kurkdjian's work can be viewed through the lens of structuralism, where ruins symbolize the breakdown of established orders. The photograph challenges fixed notions of permanence and power, suggesting that all structures, no matter how grand, are subject to entropy. It serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of human endeavor.