Nvard Dzeron – Daughter of Armenia, 1912

This 1912 portrait by the American painter Ralph Elmer Clarkson is titled “Nvard Dzeron – Daughter of Armenia”. The painting is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. It depicts Nvard Dzeron-Koshkaryan, a native of Kharberd (Harput), who was brought to the United States as a child. Little is known about her. She was a singer, and recordings of her performing Armenian songs, “Manir, manir, im chakharak” and “Gnats ashun, yekav garun”, are preserved in the US Library of Congress.

The portrait was originally called “Nvard Dzeron”, but after the Armenian Genocide of 1915 the image took on new meanings and a second title appeared: “Daughter of Armenia”.

The woman is shown full length in a long blue coat with gold-coloured embroidery and wide trousers, with an ornament on her head and red prayer beads in her hand.