Photograph #1
Name/Title
Photograph #1Description
Mateos Papazian began his photographic career with Antoine Zilpochian. They established the Zilpochian-Papazian studio in the early 1860s but parted ways a few years later to pursue separate businesses. The studio was located at 47 Rue Okdjoular-Bachi (later Okçularbaşı) in the Beyazıt district of Constantinople, a street that no longer exists. Later, seals of Papazian's studio on Grand Rue de Galata appeared and make grand claims, boasting various international awards. However, there is no evidence that he ever participated in such competitions. This was likely a deceptive tactic aimed at attracting unsuspecting clients. Further indications of Papazian’s questionable practices include certain unethical, if not outright illegal, actions. A number of carte de visite portraits of prominent figures that Papazian distributed under his name were originally produced by Abdullah Frères and Vassilaki Kargopoulo. During the 1870s, the studio was renamed Papazian Frères, suggesting that Mateos' brother(s), whose name remains unknown, had joined the business. The family expanded their operations, opening branches in Varna, Bulgaria, and Dieppe, France, with different members likely managing each location. According to photography historian Bahattin Öztuncay, Papazian’s Istanbul studio ceased operations in 1883, but his heirs continued the family business in Bulgaria. Approximately five years later, another photographer named Mateos Papazyants opened a studio in Vagharshapat, Russian Armenia. Whether the two photographers were connected remains unknown.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Albumen PrintSubject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
ConstantinopleCategory
Photographs