[The Tower of 'Chihil Dukhtaran', Mausoleum of 40 daughters, 1056.] 1840 - 1869

Luigi Pesce created this albumen silver print of The Tower of 'Chihil Dukhtaran' around 1856. Notice the structures; one a cylindrical tower, the other a mausoleum, each capped with a dome. The earth-toned hues and soft focus lend a timeless quality to the decaying architecture. The composition is structured around the contrast between the geometric forms of the buildings and the organic shapes of the surrounding landscape. The peeling surfaces and broken edges of the buildings speak to a kind of material instability, mirroring perhaps the shifting cultural and historical narratives. This image functions as a sign, pointing not only to the physical existence of these structures but also to the passage of time, the erosion of history, and the inevitable decay of even the most monumental constructions. Pesce’s photograph, therefore, isn’t just a representation of architecture, but a meditation on time, memory, and the very nature of cultural preservation.