Photographs of Palestine from archive of Sultan Abdulhamid II

The Ottoman Empire accelerated its modernization efforts in the 19th century, closely following developments in the West. One of these developments was the discovery of photography. Shortly after the discovery of photography in Europe, it began to spread in the Ottoman territories. The Ottoman Sultans were closely monitoring the developments in the field of photography as well. Sultan Abdulhamid II, who received versatile training, had a particular interest in photography. Sultan Abdulhamid, aspiring to be well-informed about everything, utilized photographers trained among the officers within the army. Through them, he monitored events and developments not only within the Ottoman Empire but also in various parts of the world. The albums known as the 'Yıldız Albums' or 'Abdülhamid Albums,' comprising 35,000 pieces and recognized as the world's largest photographic archive, are the result of Abdulhamid's interest and curiosity in photography. This valuable collection serves as a documentation, encompassing not only Istanbul but also the entire Ottoman territories and various countries around the world. Some of the photographs in the albums were commissioned by the palace and taken by leading photographers of the time. Others were sent as gifts by professionals from different countries who were aware of Abdulhamid's interest in photography. The artists who sent photographs to Abdulhamid are also recognized as pioneers in the history of the art of photography. One of them was Vasilaki Kargopulo. Born in 1826, Kargopulo is considered one of the most important photographers of the Ottoman period. Kargopulo, who significantly developed his skills in photography, managed to establish a relationship with the palace in the later years. He captured the portrait of Abdulaziz and provided photography lessons to V. Murad during his princely period. In 1879, he was honored with the title 'Sultan Photographer' by Sultan Abdulhamid II. The series on the Ottoman Dynasty and Statesmen is one of the most significant works by Kargopulo. In 1886, Vasilaki Kargopulo received the 'Sanayi Madalyası' (Industry Medal), the highest award in the field of fine arts in the Ottoman territories, from Sultan Abdulhamid II.