Along with Papazyants, Markarian and Hadjolian brothers’ businesses, A. Kapamadjian’s studio appears to be one of the earliest established by Armenians in Bulgaria. Roustchuk (Rustchuk) where Kapamadjian’s studio was located was an important naval port on the river Danube with a large military garrison. The city had a sizable Armenian population along with a large Jewish community. A publishing house called K. Kapamadjian (specialising in postcards, some with Armenian subject matter) is known to have operated there around 1900s. Sometime after WWII, Kapamadjian relocated to Egypt, where, in his 50s, he eloped with an Armenian woman named Siranoush. It is not certain whether Kapamadjian continued his photographic activities after settling in Egypt. He had a long life, becoming a father at 84.[1] It is possible that A. Kapamadjian was related to the painter G. Gabamadjian who spent some time in Bulgaria at the turn of the 20th century.

Kapamadjian’s studio portraits are conventional but elegant photographs of the Roustchuk’s multi-ethnic middle-class populace.

[1] Biographical details provided by the descendants of Agop Kapamadjian, Peter Magian of Brisbane.

Vigen Galstyan, 2016