File:Imperial arts school constantinople.jpg

English: The only photographic image in which both appear was probably taken between 1885 and 1887 and depicts the teaching staff and student body of the Imperial Fine Arts School. An identification of Hagopian in the image was only made possible because of Teotig’s inclusion of the artist’s photograph in his biography. The teachers are seated while behind them, in two rows, stand the students. The latter have not been identified in the various publications of the image. Standing in the centre of the second row, fifth from the left, right behind Osman Hamdi Bey, stands Hagopian, considerably older than the other students, posing with hand clearly visible resting proudly on his lower chest. An unidentified young man [perhaps Vichen Arslanian] has his left hand firmly placed upon Hagopian’s left shoulder. With his head leaning slightly towards Hagopian, fourth from the left, stands Fetvadjian. The men have very slightly turned towards each other, their body language indicating familiarity. While in itself no confirmation of intimacy, nevertheless, viewed alongside the article, their position in this group photograph may also suggest a camaraderie between the two men.