Portret van Mirza Ali Akbar, een edelman of prins van Perzische afkomst before 1872

Henry Charles Baskerville Tanner made this photographic print of Mirza Ali Akbar, an aristocrat of Persian descent. This image provides a window into the complex interplay between cultural representation and imperial power during the 19th century. Here we see Akbar, his attire speaking to his status and cultural identity. The photograph, taken by a British photographer, Tanner, hints at the dynamic between the British Empire and Persian society. During this era, photography was often used as a tool to document and classify people from different cultures, often reinforcing existing power structures. Consider the choices made in staging this portrait: how does it reflect or challenge the prevailing European perceptions of Persian identity? The image prompts us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in portraiture and the gaze, especially when crossing cultural and social divides. What stories might lie behind Akbar’s gaze, as he stands before the foreign lens?