Si-o-se Pol of Allahverdi-Khanbrug in Isfahan 1843 - 1854

Eugène Flandin created this print of the Si-o-se Pol bridge in Isfahan. It’s a bridge whose name translates to “33 Arches bridge.” Flandin’s work offers a window into 19th-century Orientalism, reflecting Europe’s fascination with and often biased representation of the East. As a French artist traveling through Persia, Flandin captured the architecture and landscapes through a Western lens, a gaze that was both curious and colonial. Look at the figures in the image. They seem placed to give scale to the architectural feat that the bridge represents, but they also serve as a reminder of the human stories that are often overshadowed by grand structures. As viewers, we’re invited to reflect on the cross-cultural dialogues, power dynamics, and artistic interpretations that shape our understanding of different worlds. What does it mean to see a place through someone else's eyes, especially when those eyes carry the weight of a complex history?