(6) [Naksh-i Rustam, Near Persepolis] 1840 - 1869

Luigi Pesce made this photograph of Naksh-i Rustam near Persepolis at an unknown date. The sepia tones evoke a sense of antiquity, which is fitting, considering this is a landscape laden with cultural and historical weight. Pesce, an Italian photographer working in Iran, captured the imposing rock-cut tombs of Persian kings. These carvings are a bold assertion of power, but Pesce's lens also reveals a vulnerability in their scale, dwarfed by the natural landscape. The figures on horseback carved into the cliff face serve as reminders of the power and masculinity, with the exclusion of other narratives. The photograph invites us to consider the layers of history etched into this landscape. It’s a reminder that even the most enduring monuments are subject to time, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of identity, power, and memory.