Painting

The proscription of illustration and painting in Islam is a topic often discussed by researchers and art-ists. Most orientalists have suggested that Islam generally opposed art, especially painting and illustra-tion, thus resulting in a number of limitations. A survey of different prophetic sayings on this subject (hadith singular, hadis plural), verses of the Qur'an, and artworks in the era of the caliphs has been pe-rused in this article. It seems that a core factor for the restriction was the possible reversion of newly converted Muslims to polytheism and idolatry. This was a genuine concern in early Islam. Today it is generally unknown, unheard of or simply ignored in the world of Islam. Islam has not prohibited paint-ing rather it does emphasize beauty and aesthetics.

The present research with an emphasis on coffee houses at Qajar age has recognized motives and effect of social and political factors such as conditional event in formation of art traditions in coffee house so as to examine the communication function of coffee house painting at this space. Coffee house at Qajar age has been found as a place for people’s gathering which had communicative-cultural function in parallel to people’s daily activity. Extensiveness of political and social events and diversity of effective art and cultural activities in these gatherings which have caused acquisition of clients have increased significance of function at this space. Most of the arts including coffee house painting increased in the context of this place. With regard to the research findings, despite related works which have grounded on folk art boom in coffee house painting, it can perceive the controversial effect of this art event in the society focused on this art’s intellectual approach to the subjects with transnational themes which had caused people’s awakening. The present research intends to detect the factors contributed in formation of coffee house painting with the effective national-religious themes in social events at Qajar age.