Papalov's photo-studio was located on Vinny Podyom street in the Armenian district of Havlabar in Tiflis. Established at the end of the 19th century, it operated most likely until the end of the 1900s. Papalov provided his services to Havlabar’s working and merchant classes, and his simple, very straightforward portraits are today an important documentary representation of Tiflis’s pre-revolutionary Armenian community. Biographical details about photographer have not been found. As commonly accepted at that time, Papalov possibly Russified his name in order to make his establishment more attractive both for non-Armenian inhabitants of the city.

Vigen Galstyan, 2017