Jazeh Tabatabai

JAZEH TABATABAI (Tehran, 1931–2008).
“Dance.”
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower right corner. Stamped on the back.
Measurements: 50 x 70 cm; 54 x 73.5 cm (frame).

A representative work of Jazeh Tabatabai’s most recognizable body of work, in which the artist transforms the human figure into a refined symbolic language of Persian inspiration and universal appeal. Against a luminous golden background, a succession of stylized anthropomorphic figures—rendered through sinuous lines and expansive areas of intense color—evoke a ceremonial dance brimming with rhythm, elegance, and spirituality. The formal simplification, the richness of the composition, and the balance between tradition and modernity make this painting a magnificent example of the artistic synthesis that established Tabatabai as one of the leading figures in contemporary Iranian art.

A painter and sculptor trained at the School of Dramatic Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, Tabatabai became one of the most important artists in Iranian avant-garde art. He worked in painting, poetry, and sculpture, always creating works that challenged traditional conceptions of art. The recipient of various awards, Tabatabai founded the Iran Modern Art Gallery, thereby gaining international recognition that led him to exhibit in numerous countries, including Germany, Sweden, India, China, Monaco, and Spain. His style is characterized by innovation in both his approach and the materials he used (nuts, springs, and screws), which the artist combined in various ways through his imagination, resulting in unique and unmistakable works. His paintings are characterized by figures with Oriental-inspired features, such as women with round faces and almond-shaped eyes, or even animals with human faces. Many of his works feature the sun, an indispensable element in Persian culture. Jazeh Tabatabai spent his final years in the city of Vigo, where he created works such as the one presented here. Her connection to Spain even led her to paint a series of *Meninas*, as well as another series featuring bulls and bullfighters. Her works have been featured in temporary exhibitions at the Tehran Biennial (editions I, II, III, IV, and V), as well as at the Paris, São Paulo, and Venice Biennales. Some of his works are held in private collections and museums around the world, such as the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Currently, a large part of his collection is housed at the Tehran Museum of Modern Art.