Alexander Dzhanaev-Khetagurov, whose camera is on display in the exhibit, was known throughout Vladikavkaz as Sadulla. He was born in 1873 into a simply mountain family in the village of Sinjisar in the Nar parish. Modern researchers know practically nothing about his childhood.
When he moved to Vladikavkaz, Sadulla became apprentice to the photographer Sergei Alonkin. In1898, he purchased his mentor’s studio, which was located in the Skord house on Alexandrovsky Avenue, and began working for himself. At the same time, Dzhanaev-Khetagurov married Maria Azanievaya.
The news that the first Ossetian photographer in history appeared in Vladikavkaz quickly became known not only in the city, but also elsewhere; people came from all over Ossetia to Sadulla’s studio. According to his contemporaries, the photographer arranged it so that clients who came from far away could relax and clean up in his house.
Semyon Azaniev, a student of Dzhanaev-Khetagurov, described the photographer’s work as follows: “He never put the client in front of the lens right away, he first tries to have a conversation in order to understand his character, and only then does he makes a portrait”.
Sadulla opened one of the first in photography shops where you could purchase “photographic materials at the cheapest price” and use the “dark room for amateur photographers” at no cost.
In 1904-1905, Dzhanaev-Khetagurov moved his studio to the right-most wing of the merchant Bogdan Oganov’s mansion (today located at 12 Mira Avenue), where he worked for the rest of his life.
In 1910, Sadulla became a member of the Vladikavkaz Mountain Club. He took many trips along Georgian and Ossetian military roads, during which he photographed region’s nature. At the same time, his wife, Maria Grigoryevna, founded a small publishing house and started production of postcards with views of the Caucasus, which quickly became popular with the city’s residents. The photographer quickly thereafter signed a contract with the Grandberg Society, which began to distribute these postcards in Europe under its own brand.
Sadulla was very close with Kosta Khetagurov. The poet trusted him so much that he gave him the power of attorney over his affairs. This is evident in Kosta’s notes addressed to Alexander Kuzmich: “Dear Sadullah! I need two rubles for household expenses. Send them with the bearer. Kosta”, " Sadulla, send one ruble for tea and sugar. Your Kosta’, " Sadulla, send one ruble for household use. Your Kosta’, “Sadulla, I have a terrible heartbeat, my whole body is shaking, bring a doctor quickly!”
Dzhanaev-Khetagurov supported the Vladikavkaz intelligentsia’s revolutionary sentiments, and was friends with the well-known public figures Simon Takoev and Mikhail Kolbus. However, practically nothing is known about what he did for the revolutionary movement. Maria Gavрrilovna wrote that Alexander Kuzmich ‘was an underground worker and due to constant arrests and persecution, he fell ill with tuberculosis and died’. The photographer was buried on July 8th, 1918 in the Vladikavkaz public cemetery. His grave was not preserved to modern times.
When he moved to Vladikavkaz, Sadulla became apprentice to the photographer Sergei Alonkin. In1898, he purchased his mentor’s studio, which was located in the Skord house on Alexandrovsky Avenue, and began working for himself. At the same time, Dzhanaev-Khetagurov married Maria Azanievaya.
The news that the first Ossetian photographer in history appeared in Vladikavkaz quickly became known not only in the city, but also elsewhere; people came from all over Ossetia to Sadulla’s studio. According to his contemporaries, the photographer arranged it so that clients who came from far away could relax and clean up in his house.
Semyon Azaniev, a student of Dzhanaev-Khetagurov, described the photographer’s work as follows: “He never put the client in front of the lens right away, he first tries to have a conversation in order to understand his character, and only then does he makes a portrait”.
Sadulla opened one of the first in photography shops where you could purchase “photographic materials at the cheapest price” and use the “dark room for amateur photographers” at no cost.
In 1904-1905, Dzhanaev-Khetagurov moved his studio to the right-most wing of the merchant Bogdan Oganov’s mansion (today located at 12 Mira Avenue), where he worked for the rest of his life.
In 1910, Sadulla became a member of the Vladikavkaz Mountain Club. He took many trips along Georgian and Ossetian military roads, during which he photographed region’s nature. At the same time, his wife, Maria Grigoryevna, founded a small publishing house and started production of postcards with views of the Caucasus, which quickly became popular with the city’s residents. The photographer quickly thereafter signed a contract with the Grandberg Society, which began to distribute these postcards in Europe under its own brand.
Sadulla was very close with Kosta Khetagurov. The poet trusted him so much that he gave him the power of attorney over his affairs. This is evident in Kosta’s notes addressed to Alexander Kuzmich: “Dear Sadullah! I need two rubles for household expenses. Send them with the bearer. Kosta”, " Sadulla, send one ruble for tea and sugar. Your Kosta’, " Sadulla, send one ruble for household use. Your Kosta’, “Sadulla, I have a terrible heartbeat, my whole body is shaking, bring a doctor quickly!”
Dzhanaev-Khetagurov supported the Vladikavkaz intelligentsia’s revolutionary sentiments, and was friends with the well-known public figures Simon Takoev and Mikhail Kolbus. However, practically nothing is known about what he did for the revolutionary movement. Maria Gavрrilovna wrote that Alexander Kuzmich ‘was an underground worker and due to constant arrests and persecution, he fell ill with tuberculosis and died’. The photographer was buried on July 8th, 1918 in the Vladikavkaz public cemetery. His grave was not preserved to modern times.
