What Is The Main Subject Of Persian Landscape Art? (Explained)
Persian art, also known as Iranian art, is one of the richest art heritages in the world, which encompasses many influences of neighboring countries and cultures. Most Persian artists prefer to paint landscapes; however, the main subject in these paintings differs from the subjects in Western-style landscapes. So, what is the main subject in Persian landscape art, and how does it differ from the usual landscapes that Western audiences are familiar with?
The main subjects in Persian landscape art are people and gardens. Persians value relationships with nature and like to depict these moments in landscapes. Persian artists cherish their gardens tremendously, often combining these two things in their landscape paintings and other artwork.
In this article, I will discuss the importance of human relationships with nature and the gardens in Persian culture. I will elaborate on Persian landscape art and explain why Persian art is so important in the art world. Once you read my review on these landscapes, you will understand why Persian art is considered one of the world’s most vibrant art heritages.
Main Subjects Of Persian Landscape Art
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As I mentioned above, Persians cherish the relationships between man and nature. They believe that this is the most important relationship in an individual’s life; therefore, they like to depict these scenes in landscape paintings. Also, they have a great appreciation for their gardens, so they want to focus on them in their art as well.
Persian landscape art is characterized by bright and colorful paintings that depict calming and soothing scenes. It is no surprise that Persian art is one of the most valued in the world.
The Man And Nature of Persian Art
The relationship between man and nature is highly valued as it is believed that these two notions have mutual impacts that significantly influence a man’s life. Persians believe that focusing on nature creates awareness in humankind of the benefits that it provides. Nature is ideal for creating the concepts of an artificial environment, using sounds, silence, light, and darkness.
It’s believed that by embracing nature, people gain values and understanding of how nature is important and how it impacts their lives. Therefore, it’s important for Persians to include this relationship in their landscapes to emphasize its importance. This is their way of showing appreciation towards the green space that essentially provides life.
When we talk about traditional western landscape art, we most likely think of showing nature without any signs of humans. In Persian art, a man (or woman) is generally included as part of the landscape. Persians believe that these two things are inseparable; therefore, they should always be shown together. That is the reason why in most Persian landscapes, you can see the focus is on people, while nature forms the background.
For most European painters and artists, a landscape means depicting a specific natural landscape without including any people. For the Persian artists, it is the other way around. It is for this reason that they have the most distinguished and unique art culture in the world.
Persian Gardens in Landscape Paintings
The other important subject found in Persian landscape art is Persian gardens. The gardens play a crucial role in the landscapes mainly because they symbolize natural comfort. The gardens provide a calming and soothing feeling, and they have a therapeutic effect on the viewer.
Looking at people in these kinds of environments produces a calmness that all of us are searching for. Obviously, Persians have a more in-depth understanding of this, and they create artwork that helps reduce the levels of stress experienced regularly in society. According to many studies, the perfect arrangement of the content in an artistic landscape causes people to prefer landscapes more than any other subject matter.
Furthermore, Persian gardens are considered crucial in fulfilling human physical and mental needs. These gardens are one of the essential features of Persian culture, and they symbolize the connection with nature and internal human beliefs.
As I mentioned above, the gardens represent the relationship between humankind and nature, and they result in the symbol of comfort. To produce the concept of comfort, Persian gardens include four elements: land, water, plants, and space.
Many of the garden landscapes depicted in the art include an incline, so it can represent the natural flux of the water as it moves through the garden. Persians tend to show the gardens as vividly as possible and they pay attention to every detail. In order to achieve a sense of calmness and comfort, the painting should be as realistic as possible.
A Persian garden landscape also usually includes water in the garden. Since water is the essential element needed for survival, it needs to be incorporated into the landscape. The water flow also contributes to the soothing effect that the artist wants to achieve in the painting.
Furthermore, the plants are the green elements that are the basic symbol of nature. They symbolize the growth of everything that is created naturally. Vegetation plays a crucial role in any Persian landscape painting, as it demonstrates the freshness and hope that comes from nature.
Finally, space is considered to be the final important element in Persian landscape art. The space depicted in these artworks represents the symbol of the possibilities offered to humankind by nature. When a person sees a landscape with a large amount of space around people, it reminds them of the freedom and opportunities given in life.
Importance of Persian Art
Persian art possesses one of the richest and most distinguished art heritages in the world. Persian artists own one of the greatest and the oldest techniques in the discipline of art; therefore, many cultures are inspired and influenced by them.
Persian art is unique because it has adopted many styles incorporated from different countries, which plays a crucial role in the development of its artistic history. Persian artists enrich the world of art with innovations, new methods, and techniques.
Conclusion
Unlike the landscapes we are used to in the Western world, Persian landscapes include people in most of the artwork. They depict the relationship between man and nature in a unique way to the delight of art lovers worldwide.
