One of the many challenges of Nasir al-Din’s reign was the escalating interference of England and Russia as each sought control over traditional Persian territories. In a pair of prints (see M.2016.138.5), Filizadeh ironically emphasizes the shah’s impotence against such foreign domination, personified by the ambassadors from these countries. Here, the Russian ambassador smugly holds aloft the better part of a large sturgeon from the Caspian Sea, while Nasir al-Din happily makes do with the tail end. The unequal division of the fish serves as a reminder of Russian designs to dominate the Caspian coast. The shah’s royal attire is now mixed with loose pants and fishing boots, combining his royal image with an outdoorsy persona for adventures in cultural diplomacy, or rather, for the Russian ambassador to have his way with the shah.
