the Pahlavi Dynasty
(1925-1979)
DISSERTATION
to
Obtain the degree of Doctor of Art History
at the Institute of Art History,
University of Regensburg
2021
Presented by Solmaz Keshavarzi
First appraiser: Prof. Dr. Christoph WagnerContents
Preface ............................................................................................................................ 10
Abstract ........................................................................................................................... 11
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 12
Methodology................................................................................................................... 13
1 Modernity .................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 The beginning of modernity in Iran ....................................................................... 2
1.2 Modernity in Iran under Pahlavi rule .................................................................... 5
1.3 Chronology ............................................................................................................ 8
1.3.1 1911-1942 ................................................................................................... 8
1.3.2 1942-1958 ................................................................................................... 8
1.3.3 1958-1979 ................................................................................................... 9
2 The start of academic art instruction according to Western methods in Iran .......... 10
2.1 The formal inception of modern art in Iran ......................................................... 11
2.1.1 The Faculty of Fine Arts ........................................................................... 12
2.1.2 The Decorative Arts School ..................................................................... 13
3 Tehran galleries, 1954-1979 .................................................................................... 17
3.1 Apadana Gallery (established 1949) ................................................................... 18
3.2 Gallery Esthétique (established 1954) ................................................................. 18
3.3 Modern Art Gallery (established 1955) ............................................................... 19
3.4 Atelier Kaboud (1961-1968) ............................................................................... 19
3.5 Gilgamesh Gallery (1961-1963) .......................................................................... 20
3.6 Burgess Gallery (1966-1979) .............................................................................. 21
3.7 Seyhoun Art Gallery (established 1966) ............................................................. 21
3.8 Niazi Gallery (1967-1972; 1972-1978) ............................................................... 21
3.9 Khaneh Aftab Gallery (1970-1979)..................................................................... 24
3.10 Zorvan Gallery (1973-1975)................................................................................ 24
3.11 Sullivan Painting Gallery (1974-1979) ............................................................... 24
3.12 Ghandriz Hall (1964-1977) ................................................................................. 24
3.13 Mehrshad Gallery (1974-1979) ........................................................................... 25
3.14 Zand Gallery (1976-1978) ................................................................................... 28
3.15 Sheikh Gallery (1977-1978) ................................................................................ 29
3.16 Lito Gallery (1971-1979)..................................................................................... 29
4 Modern art exhibitions in Iran (from 1950s to 1979).............................................. 33
4.1 International exhibitions and the Tehran Biennales ............................................ 33
4.2 The Tehran Biennales .......................................................................................... 35
4.2.1 The 1st Tehran Biennale (14th April 1958), Abyaz Palase ........................ 35
4.2.2 The 2nd Tehran Biennale (April-May 1960, Abyaz Palace) ..................... 38
4.2.3 The 3rd Tehran Biennale (April-May 1962), Abyaz Palace...................... 42
4.2.4 The 4th Tehran Biennale (April-May 1964), Abyaz Palace ...................... 49
4.2.5 The 5th Tehran Biennale (June-July 1966), Museum of Anthropology.... 55
4.3 Iran at the Venice Biennales ................................................................................ 58
5 Artists’ sponsors during the Pahlavi dynasty .......................................................... 61
5.1 The Ministry of Culture and the Arts .................................................................. 61
5.2 The Farah Pahlavi Foundation............................................................................. 62
6 Uniquely Persian art styles during the Pahlavi dynasty .......................................... 64
6.1 Coffee House painting ......................................................................................... 64
6.2 The Kamal-ol-Molk school (Realism) ................................................................. 65
6.3 Miniature painting ............................................................................................... 66
6.4 The Saqqakhaneh movement ............................................................................... 66
6.4.1 The Saqqakhaneh school and calligraphy ................................................ 68
6.4.2 Favorite elements of the Saqqakhaneh school .......................................... 69
7 Iranian modern artists (1927-1979) ......................................................................... 70
7.1 Painters ................................................................................................................ 70
7.1.1 Jalil Ziapour (1920–1999) ........................................................................ 72
7.1.1.1 “Zeynab Khatun”, 1962..................................................................... 74
7.1.2 Marcos Grigorian (1925–2007) ................................................................ 74
Marcos Grigorian’s four ................................................................................................. 76
7.1.2.1 “The Gate of Auschwitz” .................................................................. 76
7.1.2.2 “Pop art, painting with straw” ........................................................... 76
7.1.3 Abbas Moayeri (born 1939) ..................................................................... 77
7.1.3.1 Classical Persian miniatures .............................................................. 79
7.1.3.2 Modern Persian miniatures................................................................ 79
7.1.3.3 Sculpture............................................................................................ 79
7.1.4 Bahman Mohassess (1931-2010) ............................................................. 79
7.1.4.1 “FiFi Howls from Happiness” ........................................................... 81
7.1.5 Behjat Sadr (1924–2009) .......................................................................... 81
7.1.5.1 “Abstract III”, 1961 ........................................................................... 83
7.2 Graphic designers ................................................................................................ 83
7.2.1 The beginning of modern graphic design in Iran ..................................... 83
