Portret van sjah Mozaffer ed-Din Kadjar before 1902

This portrait of Shah Mozaffer al-Din Qajar, made with photographic materials, sits nestled in the pages of a book. I’m immediately drawn to the way the image is framed by a decorative border, like a jewel set in a crown, lending an archaic feel to the composition. There's a stillness to the photo, but also a dynamic quality, like it might come alive at any moment. The pose is so formal, yet the subject is captured in a soft light, which gives the image a dreamlike quality. You can almost feel the texture of his elaborate uniform, rendered in shades of grey, and imagine the weight of his gaze. It's a reminder that art, in all its forms, is a conversation across time and cultures, and an invitation to see the world through someone else's eyes.