Hagopian/Hakobyan Collection – Yerevan, L.A.

09/02/24 (Last modified 09/02/24) - Translator: Simon Beugekian

The collection presented on this page consists mostly of photographs taken in an orphanage. The photographs belonged to Garabed (Garo) Hagopian, who was born in Arapgir sometime around 1910. He was a member of the generation of Armenian children who were orphaned as a result of the Armenian Genocide.

These materials were provided to us by Anna Hagopian, Garabed’s granddaughter, who lives in Los Angeles. She also provided us with the history of her family.

Garabed Hagopian had few memories of his true family. He knew that his parents were called Hagop and Khatoun, and that his sister was called Trfanda. He also had another sister and a brother, whose names he did not remember. Garabed and Trfanda survived the Genocide, but the rest of the family perished.

Garabed Hagopian, photographed in Beirut. Photographer: Leon.

Garabed Hagopian, photographed in Beirut in 1932.

1920s. Orphans at the NER orphanage of Antilias practicing high jump. In 1930, this site would become the seat of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia.

We do not know which orphanage originally provided shelter for Garabed and Trfanda. But we know that sometime later, the administrators of that orphanage sent Trfanda to the United States, where the two children probably had relatives. Garabed was supposed to travel to the United States with his sister, but upon arrival at the port, he was diagnosed with an eye condition (probably trachoma), and he was not permitted to board. Trfanda left alone, and the two siblings completely lost contact. In later years, all attempts by Garabed to locate Trfanda failed.

Garabed was moved to the Near East Relief (NER) orphanage in Antilias. This was when he was given the surname Hagopian. He did not remember his original surname, but remembered that his father was called Hagop, so was dubbed Hagopian.

During his years at the orphanage, it became clear that Garabed was a talented painter. His painting teacher was Mihran Seraylian (1867, Gesaria – 1957, San Fransisco). It was also during these years that Garabed befriended Haroutyun Harmandarian (1910-1967), another orphan and another talented artist, who would later achieve great fame as a painter under the name of Galents. While living in Beirut, Garabed also received correspondence classes in painting from a French artist (name unknown).

A painting class at the Near East Relief (NER) orphanage of Antilias, 1927. Painting classes were held in a dedicated room at the orphanage. In the photograph, orphans are gathered around their painting teacher, Mihran Seraylian. In the center background, at the top, is the star, the symbol of the NER. The displayed paintings are probably the works of the orphans.

This photograph, originally in black and white, was digitally colorized using MyHeritage.com and reworked by Houshamadyan.

1928. The wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias with their painting teacher, Mihran Seraylian.

1937. Garabed Hagopian painting on his easel in the streets of Damascus.

The football (soccer) team of the NER orphanage of Antilias. Garabed Hagopian is first from the right in the front row, lying on the ground.

Garabed Hagopian is the hatted man on the left.

Another photograph from Garabed Hagopian’s collection. Probably taken somewhere in Beirut.

Garabed Hagopian (seated), painting. Beirut, 1928.

Some of Garabed’s paintings were painted in Beirut. These include a painting of the Armenian refugee camp of Beirut; and another of the seat of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antilias alongside its mother cathedral, Saint Krikor Lousavorich. Both are watercolors, and were executed in 1946, the year in which Garabed and his family emigrated to Soviet Armenia. Presumably, Garabed wished to have mementos, in the form of paintings by his own hand, of places that were near and dear to him.

Garabed Hagopian signed his canvases with the name “Gopian,” which was probably an abbreviation of his surname, Hagopian.

In the early 1940s, in Beirut, Garabed married Anna Gurounilian (Gurunlian), who was born in Gesaria. Her father was called Sarkis, and her brother, Levon, lived in Aleppo. Garabed and Anna had three children. Haygouhi and Knar were born in Beirut. The couple’s only son, Sarkis (Anna Hagopian’s father), was born in Soviet Armenia.

The orphans of the NER orphanage on a beach on the Mediterranean coast. Garabed Hagopian is in the front row, on the left, kneeling.

The orphans of the NER orphanage of Antilias, photographed on a trip. Garabed Hagopian is seated, on the very left.

Former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias on a Lebanese beach. Garabed Hagopian is standing, third from the left.

Former wards of the NER orphanage, on a trip in the mountains of Lebanon. They are photographed in front of a billboard advertising Air France, the French airline. Garabed Hagopian is standing on the very right, wearing a white shirt and holding a pole.

Former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias, photographed before boarding a train. Garabed Hagopian is the second from the left, in the back row.

A bus trip to a scenic location in Lebanon. Almost certainly, some of the individuals in the photograph are former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias. Garabed Hagopian is standing, second from the right.

Former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias on a beach in Lebanon. Garabed Hagopian is first from the left.

An athletic competition. In the 1920s, orphanages administered by the NER would organize athletic contests and meets, in which wards from different institutions would compete against each other. This photograph was probably taken during a long jump or triple jump event.

Former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias, photographed on a street in Beirut. Garabed Hagopian is on the very left.

Former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias, photographed somewhere in Lebanon. Garabed Hagopian is second from the left.

Former wards of the NER orphanage of Antilias on a hike in the mountains of Lebanon.

The family lived in Yerevan, where Garabed built their own private house. Years later, the authorities demolished the house and built the Armenian Painters’ Union building at the same site (Nikol Douman Street, number 1). The Hagopians moved into this building. Anna Hagopian recalls that his grandfather’s visitors included Antranig Dzarougian and Haroutyun Galents, who had also grown up in Armenian orphanages in Syria and Lebanon. It is said that during Galents’ funeral (May 9, 1967), Garabed was so despondent over his friend’s untimely demise that he threw himself onto Galents’ coffin.

Garabed was not able to obtain the status of a painter in Armenia. He began working as a commercial painter, and was often called Varbed Garo (Master Garo). However, in his free time, he continued to practice his favorite art.

Antilias, the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia and its mother cathedral of Saint Krikor Lousavorich. Watercolor. Garabed Hagopian (Gopian), 1946. This site previously served as the NER orphanage of Antilias, where Garabed Hagopian lived.

The Armenian refugee camp (“vranakaghak” [tent city]) of Beirut, watercolor. Garabed Hagopian (Gopian), Beirut, 1946.

Some of Garabed Hagopian’s (Gopian) paintings.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition of Garabed Hagopian’s paintings, which took place in Yerevan, in March 1985. Garabed Hagopian is in the center of the photographs, wearing a beret.

Invitations to, and a certification for, the exhibition of Garabed Hagopian’s paintings, which took place in Yerevan, in March 1985.

In March 1985, the first and only exhibition of Garabed Hagopian’s paintings was held in Yerevan.

Anna Hagopian remembers that her grandfather had a habit of traveling to Armenia’s various corners and scenic sites with his painting equipment. He left behind hundreds of paintings. After his death, some of these were distributed among his family and relations. Currently, his paintings are kept in Yerevan, Los Angeles, Germany, etc.

Garabed died in 1997, in Yerevan.