Twee mannen met lastdieren bij (vermoedelijk) een karavanserai in Perzië c. 1880 - 1895

This photograph was taken in Persia by Antoine Sevruguin. The sepia tones are a direct result of the photographic printing process popular at the time. This chemical process, like other forms of image-making, involved meticulous labor in the darkroom, a stark contrast to our contemporary image culture. The photograph shows a man resting on what looks like a wooden bench. Behind him, two men with their donkeys are seen in front of a caravanserai, a roadside inn, supporting the flow of commerce, information, and people through trade routes. The photograph’s texture and tonal range capture the play of light on the caravanserai’s brickwork and the texture of the men’s clothing. Sevruguin's work captured a Persia undergoing modernization and increased interaction with the West. The photograph aestheticizes work and commerce, while also hinting at the socioeconomic changes unfolding in Persia at the time. This image invites us to consider the social and economic implications of global exchange.