Picturing the Ottoman Armenian World

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The Armenian contribution to Ottoman photography during the empire's final decades is well-documented, particularly through studios established by Armenian Ottomans in Istanbul, which played a vital role in the cultural flourishing of Ottoman 'modernity' before its decline after World War I. Less recognized are the pioneering studios in the Armenian heartlands, whose photographic work became a crucial means of documenting significant events and changes of the time, including war, revolution, persecution, migration, and genocide. This examination focuses on three Armenian cities—Erzurum, Kharpert, and Van—highlighting how local photography was intertwined with the profound social, political, and cultural transformations affecting Armenian lives during the last forty years of the Ottoman Empire. The book argues that photographic practices were influenced by the era's key movements, illustrating how photography was integral to Armenian educational efforts, mass migration, and revolutionary activities. It demonstrates that these phenomena not only shaped the use of photography but also facilitated its spread within Armenian communities in the Ottoman East, leading to a rapid increase in photographic studios. This work contributes to the growing interest in Ottoman and Middle Eastern photographic history while providing valuable insights into the history of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.