Zeehaven Bandar-e Anzalī in Perzië gezien over het water c. 1880 - 1895

This albumen print shows the Bandar-e Anzalī sea harbor in Persia, and was made by Antoine Sevruguin sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Sevruguin was one of the most successful commercial photographers of his time, and this image offers a window into the complex social and economic landscape of Persia under the Qajar dynasty. Sevruguin's photographs were popular among European travelers and the Persian elite. The image suggests the increased trade and exchange with Europe, with its large buildings and sailing ships. However, the rough foreground hints at a different reality. The image is inscribed with a European language, perhaps suggesting its intended market. Historical archives, travel accounts, and studies of the Qajar dynasty can shed further light on the image's significance. Remember, the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.