Iraqi art

19th c. painting by Abdul Qadir Al Rassam

Iraqi art in the Middle Ages was influenced by frequent political changes. At times, when the ruling dynasty has focused its attention outside Iraq, artistic culture and production has gone into decline. During other periods it has flourished, such as during the reign of Pir Budaq or under Ottoman rule in the 16th century when Baghdad was known for its Ottoman miniature painting. During the rule of the Safavids, Iraqi art was influenced by Iran, and it became a center of poetry as well as arts. The Iraqi poet Fuzûlî wrote in Arabic, Persian and Turkish during this time, and continued writing poetry after Ottoman rule was established in 1534.

In the 20th century, Iraq has produced many poets, painters and sculptors. These artists are well-regarded in the Middle East, and some have earned international recognition.

History

Between the years 1400-1411 Iraq was a ruled by the Jalayirid dynasty. During this time, Iraqi art and culture flourished. Between 1411 and 1469, during the rule of the Qara Quyunlu dynasty artists from different parts of the eastern Islamic world are invited to Iraq. Under the patronage of Pir Budaq. son of the Qara Quyunlu ruler Jahanshah (r. 1439–67), Iranian styles from Tabriz and Shiraz and even the styles of Timurid Central Asia are all brought together in Iraq. Baghdad's importance as a center of the arts declines after Pir Budaq's death in 1466. The Qara Quyunlu period ends with the advent of the Aq Quyunlu. Though noted patrons of the arts, the Aq Quyunlu mostly focus on areas outside Iraq.[1]

Between 1508 and 1534, Iraq is under the rule of the Safavid dynasty, which shifts the focus of arts to Iran. Baghdad experiences a revival in the arts during this period, and is also a center for literary works. The poet Fuzûlî (ca. 1495–1556) writes during the period. He writes in the three dominant languages of his time: Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. Iraq is incorporated into the Ottoman empire in 1534, during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. Fuzûlî continues to write poetry during the Ottoman period.[1] During the 16th century, Baghdad goes through another period of artistic revival; Iraqi painting from this time is called the “Baghdad school” of Ottoman miniature painting.[1]

Iraqi experiences a cultural shift between the years 1400 and 1600 AD, which is also reflected in its arts. In the 16th century, political rule in Iraq transitions from the Turko-Mongol dynasties to the Ottoman Empire. In its past Iraq had been a center of illuminated manuscripts but this art form experienced a general decline during this period.[1]

20th century

Poetry is major art form in modern Iraq. Notable 20th century poets include Nazik Al-Malaika, one of the best known woman poets in the Arab world; Muḥammad Mahdī al-Jawāhirī, who wrote the poem My Brother Jafaar for his brother who was killed during the Al-Wathbah uprising in 1948; Badr Shākir al-Sayyāb, considered one of the most influential Arab poets; and Abd al-Wahhab Al-Bayati.[2]

Iraq has produced several world-class painters and sculptors including Ismail Fatah Al Turk, Khalid al-Raḥḥal, and Muḥammad Ghani.[2]

Faik Hassan (b. 1935), considered the founder of modern plastic art in Iraq, was among several Iraqi artists who were selected to study art at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts before the Second World War. This group formed the foundation of Iraq's strong 20th century artistic tradition. Hassan founded the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad; many of Iraq's best known artists studied at this institution.[3]

Jawad Saleem is a painter from Baghdad who (together with Ghani and Hassan Shakir) founded the The Baghdad Modern Art Group in 1951. Saleem was commissioned to create the Monument of Liberty in Baghdad. [4] Dia Azzawi's (b. 1939) work, described as contemporary art, includes references to Arabic calligraphy, as well as Sumerian and Assyrian art.[4]

Jamil Hamoudi (b. 1924) is both a painter and sculptor. Like Azzawi, Hamoudi also studied at the Baghdad School of Fine Art. He was interested in the cubist movement and in 1973 he was appointed to the directorship of fine arts at the Ministry of Culture. In 1947, he self-identified with the surrealist movement, only to later distance himself citing "A dark, saturnine atmosphere emanated from [their canvases] the effect of which was to arouse a feeling of despair in human beings." His paintings are brightly colored and make use of shapes like circles, triangles and arches. For sculpture he frequently uses plaster, stone, wood, metal, copper, glass, marble, Plexiglas and ceramics.[4]

Beginning in 1969, the Arab nationalist political agenda of the Baath party encouraged Iraqi artists to create work that would explain Iraq's new national identity in terms of its historical roots. The Iraqi Ministry of Culture is involved in efforts to preserve tradition Iraqi crafts like leatherworking, copper working, and carpet making.[2]

Mostafa Taei, a resident of Hamam al-Alil was jailed by ISIL when the terrorist organization took over his town in 2014. ISIL banned any images or artworks of the human form, and Taei says he was beaten when the group learned that he was still painiting. During this period, Taei's art "took a subversive turn, becoming a gruesome record of atrocities: decapitations, hangings, injured children and sobbing widows, all painted in an unschooled Naive art style." He also started to paint "martyr posters" that depict the soldiers and police officers who have died during the military operations to liberate Nineveh.[5]

See Also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Iraq, 1400–1600 A.D. | Chronology". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "Iraq - The arts | history - geography". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  3. ↑ "Profile: Faik Hassan - Al Jazeera English". Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  4. 1 2 3 Kember, Pamela (2013). Benezit Dictionary of Asian Artists. Oxford University Press.
  5. ↑ MacDiarmid, Campbell. "Iraqi artist depicts life under ISIL". Retrieved 2017-07-20.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.