Presented here is the last one from a series of 10 unique 19th century postcards coming from Taus Makhacheva’s personal archive as seen in the artist’s book Types du Caucase.
Each postcard represents a “pittoresque” group from various tribes, families, nationalities or representatives of diverse professions of people from the Caucausus, presented in a style of colonial pictorialism emblematic of the exotization perpetuated by Russian/French speaking elites of the time. Here, the artist has handwritten distinct texts by different writers, politicians and historians from the beginning and middle of the 20th century, depicting their various views on the Caucasus:
“Why does Paris, the city of sensual delight and enjoyment, not have these kinds of bathhouses? It could bring both use and money. Why don’t businessmen request for at least two bath attendants from Tiflis? It could bring both pleasure and comfort. When I was covered all over with hot white soapsuds, as if it were milk, light and running as air, I was taken to the pool into which I went with such insuperable inclination as if there were nymphs who had kidnapped Ghilya." A. Dumas, The Caucasus, 1859