Near Samarkand. Study
1905
Russian forces took Samarkand in 1868, and in 1886 the city became the capital of an oblast within Russian Turkestan. Two years later the Trans-Caspian Railway reached the city. Seen in this autumn view (which the photographer called an “etude”) is a rutted lane flanked by adobe walls in a state of wear. In the center is a mulberry tree. This area has long been known for the quality of its silk, produced from the cocoons of silkworms that feed on the leaves of the mulberry. The image is by Russian photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii (1863–1944), who used a special color photography process to create a visual record of the Russian Empire in the early 20th century. Some of Prokudin-Gorskii’s photographs date from about 1905, but the bulk of his work is from between 1909 and 1915, when, with the support of Tsar Nicholas II and the Ministry of Transportation, he undertook extended trips through many different parts of the empire. Prokudin-Gorskii was interested in recently acquired territories of the Russian Empire such as Turkestan (present-day Uzbekistan and neighboring states), which he visited on a number of occasions, including two trips in 1911. Turkestan appealed to him not only for its Islamic architecture but also for scenes from traditional life in cities such as Samarkand. Prokudin-Gorskii also frequently photographed local flora.
- Filename
- 5085.jpg
- Copyright
- acku Afghanistan
- Image Size
- 1800x1652 / 847.0KB
- Contained in galleries
- UZBEKISTAN