Berglandschap in Perzië c. 1880 - 1895

Antoine Sevruguin made this photograph of a mountain landscape in Persia, most likely during the late 19th century. Though this appears to be a straightforward landscape study, it can also be understood in the context of European colonialism in Persia during that period. Sevruguin was of mixed Russian, Georgian, and Armenian descent, and operated a commercial photography studio in Tehran. His photographs were popular with European travelers, researchers, and diplomatic officials. Images such as this were not merely records of the landscape, but also served as visual documents of Persia for the outside world, shaping European perceptions and contributing to the colonial gaze. To further understand such images, historians look into archives, travelogues, and diplomatic records to understand the complex relationship between artistic representation and colonial power. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.