Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster

ca. 2000 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In Iran, religious posters are commonly displayed in homes, workplaces and religious buildings. This poster depicts the female members of Imam Husayn's family mourning his death at the Battle of Karbala in 680AD.

The majority of Iran’s population are Shi'ia Muslims. The Shi’ite sect began in the 650s, when Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and Husayn’s father became Caliph (leader of the Muslim people). Many supported another candidate, the Umayyad Mu'awiya, who subsequently become Caliph when Ali was murdered in 661 AD. The supporters of Ali, became known as the Shiites, which means "the followers of Ali”. Twenty years after Ali died another rival Umayyad Caliph weakened Shi’ite rule by killing Husayn, along with most of his male family and followers at Karbala in Iraq. Still today, Shi’ites mourn the death of Imam Husayn by performing rituals and remembering the Battle of Karbala in popular imagery such as this poster.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Paper with printed design in coloured ink
Brief description
Poster, paper printed in coloured ink, Husayn's horse and female relations after Karbala, Iran, ca. 2000.
Physical description
Poster, laminated and printed in coloured ink. The central image shows six women in dark blue chadors centred around a white horse; four of the women are clinging on to the horse in despair and the other two are on the ground comforting each other. The horse has a green cloth draped over its back and an empty sword hilt attached. It has bleeding wounds on its neck and hind leg. On the ground is a discarded brown sandal, a brown saddle and three arrows. In the top right corner is the head of Husayn ibn Ali, he is shown staring out into the middle distance and surrounded by radial light. He has a black beard and is wearing a dark green head covering. The central image is surrounded by a border of white calligraphy on a green background.
Dimensions
  • Length: 17.5cm
  • Width: 25.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Dr Patricia L. Baker
Object history
This image is based on an original painting by Mahmoud Farshchian (b.24.01.1930), 1976.
Production
The donor, Dr Patricia L. Baker bought this poster in north eastern Iran in 2000 (as referenced in her book Islam and the Religious Arts).
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
In Iran, religious posters are commonly displayed in homes, workplaces and religious buildings. This poster depicts the female members of Imam Husayn's family mourning his death at the Battle of Karbala in 680AD.

The majority of Iran’s population are Shi'ia Muslims. The Shi’ite sect began in the 650s, when Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and Husayn’s father became Caliph (leader of the Muslim people). Many supported another candidate, the Umayyad Mu'awiya, who subsequently become Caliph when Ali was murdered in 661 AD. The supporters of Ali, became known as the Shiites, which means "the followers of Ali”. Twenty years after Ali died another rival Umayyad Caliph weakened Shi’ite rule by killing Husayn, along with most of his male family and followers at Karbala in Iraq. Still today, Shi’ites mourn the death of Imam Husayn by performing rituals and remembering the Battle of Karbala in popular imagery such as this poster.
Associated object
ME.10-2011 (Version)
Bibliographic references
  • Baker, Patricia. Islam and the Religious Arts. London: Continuum, 2004. ISBN 0826456057 p.255.
  • Flaskerud, Ingvild. Visualizing Belief and Piety in Iranian Shiism. London: Continnum, 2010. ISBN 9781441149077 fig.50
Collection
Accession number
ME.6-2011

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 3, 2011
Record URL
Download as: JSON