Shiraz, gezien vanaf de weg naar Isfahan c. 1880 - 1895

This photograph of Shiraz, taken from the road to Isfahan, was captured by Antoine Sevruguin. Sevruguin, of Armenian, Georgian, and Russian heritage, spent his career in Iran, then Persia. He lived and worked there during a period of intense Western interest. What we see is a constructed view of a quickly modernizing landscape, framed by ancient ruins. In the distance, figures walk along the road towards Isfahan. Who were these travelers, and what were their stories? Sevruguin documents the changing face of Persia, caught between tradition and modernity. He captured images that catered to Western tastes for the exotic and the picturesque, while also revealing the impact of colonial influence on the land and its people. Sevruguin's photographs raise critical questions about representation, authenticity, and the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking. They provide a window into a complex historical moment, inviting us to reflect on the enduring legacies of colonialism and cultural exchange.