In collaboration with Professor Jennifer Milam, this project focuses on the historical relationship constructed between the Kalmyk people and their representation—not only in Russia, but also in Europe and China. We have uncovered a rich visual archive of material that served various imperial agendas. These artworks reveal how early modern Kalmyk people were perceived as part of Russia, yet culturally distinct, maintaining an identity that aligned with an imperialist aesthetic. This aesthetic relied on the visual interplay of repression and resistance to promote an imperial agenda, framing cultural identity as a cosmopolitan ideal.