View of Constantinople 1870

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky rendered this view of Constantinople in oil paint, though the exact date is unknown. Here, Aivazovsky presents us with more than just a pretty picture. Born in the Russian Empire, Aivazovsky's Armenian heritage gives a crucial background to this work. Constantinople, now Istanbul, stood as the former heart of the Ottoman Empire, a power that had historically oppressed Armenians. By painting this city, was Aivazovsky making a statement about power, history, and identity? To explore these questions, we can turn to historical documents, cultural studies, and postcolonial theory. Understanding art means placing it within the complex web of social and political forces that shaped both its creation and our interpretation of it.