.jpg "A teahouse painting by Hassan Esmaeilzadeh depicts Hazrat Ali-Akbar (AS), a son of Imam Hussein (AS), fighting against the army of Yazid on Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram, during which the Imam and his companion were martyred.")
TEHRAN -- A collection of teahouse paintings representing the theme of Ashura is currently on display in an exhibition at the Nations Art Museum of Tehran’s Sadabad Cultural Historical Complex.
The collection contains works by pioneers of this genre Hossein Qollar-Aqasi, Mohammad Modabber, Abbas Bolukifar and Mirza Mehdi Shirazi.
In addition, a number of reverse glass paintings by Yadollah Rahimi have also been showcased at the exhibit, which runs until November 27.
The teahouse has had various functions in different eras during its 400-year history in Iran. Teahouses used to be places where people gathered to spend their leisure time listening to a naqqal (Iranian traditional storyteller) reciting Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. People talked and exchanged views, and along with lutis (wise and generous people), helped poor people.
Teahouse painters emerged in such an atmosphere. They listened to the discussions and tales, using them as subjects for the paintings they drew on the walls, tiles, stones and canvases. Sometimes, teahouse owners commissioned the painters to draw the stories.
With their own unique perspective not used in other styles, teahouse painters drew motifs entirely based on their imagination. The themes of such paintings are epics, traditions and religion.
MMS/YAW
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