Identity-less

Since the advent of the coffeehouse painting style –roughly centuries before the end of Qajar era and the beginning of Reza Pahlavi’s rule in Iran– some Shiites, who are one of several Muslim sects mostly living in Iran and Iraq used paintings, which according to their beliefs belonged to the Prophet of Islam and Shiite Imams, in various places and religious ceremonies. Now, many years after the creation of these paintings, some people still maintain their belief in the supernatural powers of such paintings, their capability of repelling the evil and mishaps, increasing the holder’s sustenance etc. Others are oblivious and do not pay any special attention to these painting but still respect them as much as possible, to the extent that if a piece of any such painting is abandoned on the ground they put it in more appropriate place. The majority of Shiite leaders reject the historical authenticity of these paintings. Naser Makarem Shirazi, a famous Shiite religious leader point out that, “these pictures are not authentic, but they are not to be disrespected since they are attributed to holy figures. Moreover, most painters and historians believe that such paintings have no historical authenticity. Habibullah Sadeghi, a painter, holds the view that when coffeehouse painters painted the portraits of Imams on the canvas, they had an ideal face in mind which they implemented using a mixture of Ilkhani and baroque techniques. The countenances of Imams were painted with doe-like eyes and round and smooth faces befitting the innocence and purity of their character. There was a period when vulgar market-oriented portraits of Shiite Imams were painted and distributed in the society. Just as Tatbir or Qama Zani –a tradition prohibited by Shiite religious leaders– is regarded as a wrong and misguided act which has become associated with the Ashura day’s mourning, making inauthentic paintings of the Imams without abiding by the principles should be forbidden too. At some point, sheets were put on such portraits on the streets in order to cover them which created unsightly scenes and annoyed the audiences.