Portret van Naser ed-Din Kadjar, sjah van Perzië 1860 - 1875

Editor: We’re looking at a photograph from somewhere between 1860 and 1875. It’s a portrait of Naser ed-Din Kadjar, the Shah of Persia, taken by Elliott & Fry. I’m struck by how ornate his clothing is, contrasting with what feels like a somewhat reserved expression. What's your take on this piece? Curator: The man exudes such stillness, doesn't he? Almost as though the camera, a relatively newfangled contraption back then, intimidated him. Or perhaps that impassivity was a deliberate choice – part of projecting an image of regal authority. Those photographers, Elliott & Fry, were really quite in vogue, capturing the likenesses of many notables. Doesn't it strike you as remarkable that photography, still in its infancy, was already being used to project power and influence across cultures? What story do you imagine lies behind those eyes? Editor: I guess I hadn't really thought about the context of photography at the time. It is fascinating to consider how instantly impactful these photos must have been! So much access into another world. I wonder if this says more about the subject or the photographer, in that sense... Curator: Exactly! It's the tension between the sitter's intention, the photographer's eye, and how we see it all now, through the looking glass of time, that makes portraits so endlessly captivating, wouldn’t you say? The image sparks so many questions. Editor: That's true; thinking about that tension does open it up a bit. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure, every piece holds a dialogue waiting to be heard, don't you agree?