An Armenian Woman of Kaghzvan in Traditional Dress

The photograph shows an Armenian woman from Kaghzvan (Kağızman) in her traditional dress. Kaghzvan was one of the ancient towns of historical Armenia, known for its rich culture and an important centre of Armenian crafts and intellectual life. The great poet Yeghishe Charents was born in this town.

The elderly woman stands beside a chair. On her head is an ornate headband from which a veil falls. She wears a long dark dress with embroidered ornaments and holds a string of beads. The caption printed below reads: “Armenian costumes. Armenian woman from Kaghzvan”.

The photograph conveys the atmosphere of more than 100 years ago and has been preserved as a memory of a lost but not forgotten homeland.