Qajar Women in 19th Century Iran

This exhibition features the centrality of the female form to the artwork of the Qajar period in Iran (1785-1925).

Through a variety of historical objects from MIA's collection, in juxtaposition with photographs and contemporary artworks inspired by the Qajar period, we explore the meaning of the image of women at the onset of modernity.

From the texture and visual culture of women's daily lives to the refinement of the Qajar court, from symbolism and mythology to the shifting understanding of female beauty over time, this exhibition looks at the representation of women in the art of Qajar Iran from a variety of angles.