Dar Sayeh-i Haram

Ardeshir Mohassess

1996 · Ink on paper · Islamic Art

The fifth Qajar ruler, Muzaffar al-Din Shah (r. 1896–1907), is shown surrounded by a harem of four women. Though Mohassess uses only black ink, his line quality is vigorous and captures the intensity of his criticism on the subject: monarchy in Iran. This subject is central to most of his caricatures and is also one widely explored in Persian manuscripts of the Shahnama (Book of Kings.)

Artist

Ardeshir Mohassess

Date

1996

Medium

Ink on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, 2011 and 2012 NoRuz at The Met Benefits, 2014