Armenian women of Gandzak in traditional dress

The photograph shows Armenian women from the city of Gandzak (Ganja) in the late 19th century. Their clothing represents the traditional women's dress characteristic of the region.

The two women sit side by side. Their headscarves cover their heads and shoulders, with decorated bands across their foreheads. They wear long dark dresses, and both hold prayer beads in their hands. The woman on the left leans on a carved table.

These figures bear witness to the position of Armenian women in the urban setting of the Caucasus, where national identity was expressed through the outward forms of daily life.