(17) Untitled 1840 - 1869

This photograph of the ruins at Persepolis was taken by Luigi Pesce sometime in the mid-19th century. As European powers expanded their colonial reach, photography played a crucial role in documenting and, in many ways, appropriating cultures. Here, Pesce captures the monumental scale of Persepolis, once a vibrant center of the Persian Empire, now a relic of a bygone era. Look at the two figures carved into the stone, regal and stoic, yet frozen in time. Are they guardians, witnesses, or symbols of a fallen empire? The photograph invites us to reflect on the nature of power, cultural memory, and the passage of time. Consider Pesce's position as a European photographer framing this scene. His lens not only records but also interprets, shaping how the Western world perceives this ancient site. It urges us to consider whose stories are being told, whose voices are amplified, and whose histories are at risk of being overshadowed.