Mahin Afshanpour

Intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in preserving the cultural identity of a nation. Intangible heritage is not only manifested in culture and traditions but also in traditional knowledge and skills. Therefore, those who have mastered any ancient knowledge and techniques and can pass it on to the next generations, are regarded as elites. Today, every country has a list titled “Caretakers of Cultural Heritage” in which the names of these people who have contributed to the preservation of their country’s heritage are inscribed. “Mahin Afshanpour” was an outstanding lady artist in miniature painting who trained many students and is considered a caretaker of Iran’s cultural heritage in this field.

Brief Biography and Service of Mahin Afshanpour

Mahin Afshanpour was born in Tehran on August 29, 1941; at the time when Iran was going through a difficult situation and the Allies Forces had occupied Tehran during World War II. Afshanpour spent the first years of her life in those difficult conditions. Due to her interest in painting, she joined the “Kamal al-Molk School of Painting” at the age of 28 where she learned oil painting and gilding/illumination. Chiaroscuro and flower and bird painting were other fields that Afshanpour learned in this course and managed to reach her Ph.D. in miniature painting and the badge of honor after years of effort. She taught in Iran’s art universities for many years and held many exhibitions. Afshanpour created more than 100 outstanding works during her life. Due to Afshanpour’s services, her name has been inscribed on the list of Iran’s “Caretakers of Cultural Heritage”. She passed away in 2022 at the age of 80.

Features of Mahin Afshanpour’s Works

Some of the prominent works of Mahin Afshanpour include “Savaria z Ghaib” (A Rider from the Unseen), “Sheikh San’an va Dokhtar-e Tars” (Sheikh San’an and the Jewish Girl), “Samand-e Tiz Pai” (The Swift Horse), “Majlis Bandanzi Arousan” (Make-up Ceremony of Brides), and “Ahovan-e Khomarchashm” (Gazelle with Dazzling Eyes). She had a unique style and was not considered an imitator. Afshanpour’s style is characterized by the emphasis on portraying, using the element of ambiguity, and avoiding excessive details. Bright shade coloring and interwoven color spectrums are among Afshanpour’s techniques for creating ambiguity in her works.

One of the distinguishing features that adds to the elegance of Afshanpour’s works, is her subtle outlook, which can be found mostly among women. The personality of the artist is clearly evident in Afshanpour’s works, and the artist cannot be separated from her works. Her mastery over Persian literature is also evident in her various works. Afshanpour’s paintings are the embodiment of the stories that the poets and writers of Iran have written in their works since the distant past. The themes resulting from the composition of figures and backgrounds used by Afshanpour remind one of poetic subtlety and elegance.

As mentioned by Afshanpour, her works have at times surpassed the usual framework to manifest the sense of human excellence and perfectionism. She believed since the artist lives in society, therefore, the themes of his/her works should be in alignment with society and its people. She considered thoughtfulness to be the basis for creating a work of art and believed that every line and every color used in a work should be thoughtful and convey a philosophy and a meaning of life.

Mahin Afshanpour’s Style

Afshanpur can be considered one of the artists who continued the “Isfahan School” of painting. This school flourished in various disciplines when Isfahan was chosen as the capital of the Safavid government (17th and 18th centuries AD) and left clear effects on the artistic movements of Iran in the following periods. Examining Afshanpour’s works and comparing them with the works of her predecessors suggests that she was a follower of Reza Abbasi (the most famous painter of Shah Abbas’s era). What Afshanpour added to this school were religious and mystical foundations that transformed Iranian painting by using works of ancient Persian literature. These characteristics caused some art experts to give her the nickname “Lady of Imagination”.

“Mahin Afshanpour” was an outstanding lady artist in miniature painting who trained many students and is considered a caretaker of Iran’s cultural heritage in this field.