Muur van de citadel en de vallei van Tsaghkotsadzor ofwel Alaca Çay, Ani 1875 - 1880

Onnes Kurkdjian captured this stereoscopic image, ‘Wall of the Citadel and the Valley of Tsaghkotsadzor, or Alaca Çay, Ani’ using photography. The sepia tones and stereoscopic format create a layered visual experience, evoking a sense of depth and historical distance. The composition focuses on the stark, vertical lines of the citadel wall, contrasting with the undulating terrain of the valley. This juxtaposition highlights the interplay between built structures and natural landscapes. The photograph, beyond its aesthetic qualities, can be interpreted as a semiotic marker, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between ruins and memory. Here, the architectural form signifies not just a physical structure, but also represents a bygone civilization, prompting reflections on the passage of time, and the enduring legacy of cultural forms. Notice how the tonal range and the geometric division of space encourage us to reconsider fixed notions of history and place.