An Armenian Singer from Salonica

The photograph shows an Armenian singer from Salonica (Thessaloniki), from the late 19th or early 20th century. Her image reflects the refinement of Armenian cultural life in the diaspora and Armenian traditions combined with a European setting.

The young woman sits on a chair in a patterned dress, with jewellery on her head and around her neck. She rests her head on her hand, and the long hose of a water pipe (nargile) lies across her lap.

Her elegant dress, jewellery and pose testify to the refined artistic taste and musical education of Armenian women of that time. The photograph is kept in the collection “Memory and Innovation of the Armenian Diaspora”.