Study and Analysis of Space and Color in Religious Coffeehouse Paintings Mohammad Modaber and Hossein Qollar Aghasi

Abstract

Coffeehouse painting is a type of narrative oil painting with martial, religious, and song themes that emerged during the Constitutional Movement, based on the traditions of folk and religious art, in response to the needs and demands of the people, and out of respect for their beliefs, by unschooled artists. Although its foundation was the ancient tradition of storytelling, elegy, and ta’ziyyah in Iran, conditions were created during the Qajar era for the growth and development of this folk art in coffeehouses. The subjects of coffeehouse painting are wide-ranging, ranging from religious to epic, romantic, and everyday themes. In the present article, religious themes and themes related to the events of Ashura and Imam Hussein (AS) are considered. Some attribute the beginning of coffeehouse painting to the time of Shah Suleiman Safavi and some to the time of Shah Tahmasp Safavi. With the recognition of Shia religion in Iran and during the Safavid period and people becoming familiar with the fate of religious leaders, several works of art were created around the lives of these leaders. The heroic and oppressive martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his loyal companions, which always moved and stirred the members of society like a raging and boiling current, led to the creation of a diverse and diverse collection of various arts. Coffeehouse paintings were commissioned for various places, including coffeehouses, Husseiniyeh, Tekiyeh, etc. The common thread of all these places is the direct connection of painting with the general public. In this study, the works of Hussein Ghollar Aghasi and Mohammad Modabbar are examined and their religious paintings are compared in terms of space and coloring.