Investigating the Effect of Iranian Miniature Painting on Contemporary Miniature of Pakistan (2021-1947 AD)

With the presence of Iranian artists in the court of the Mughal rulers in the subcontinent from 1549 AD, a new form of mughal painting was created, combining two Hindu-Persian styles, which has left significant works. The present study investigates the effect of Iranian miniature paintings on Pakistani miniatures (1947-2021). After the independence of Pakistan and India in 1947, Pakistani artists, for political reasons, sought to create a new art form in which little influence of Indian art could be seen. In this way, the efforts of Pakistani artists to achieve artistic independence were accompanied by the influence of Indian and Iranian Muslim art during the mughal period, and thus created the basis for an independent artistic identity. For this reason, by studying the works of painting in Pakistan, one can clearly see the impact of Iranian painting on Pakistani painting in different periods. The purpose of this study is to identify and to deeply understand the richness of the impact of Iranian painting on Pakistani painting and to study the artistic elements in their miniatures, so the research and the focus are based on the following questions: What elements of the Iranian style are there in new Pakistani miniature art? How are these elements represented in Pakistani miniatures? Are Pakistani paintings influenced by Iranian paintings in terms of expression?If we consider the painting styles related to Tabriz, Shiraz, Herat, Bukhara and other places to represent the main traditional styles of Iranian painting, after the Muslim invasion of the Indian subcontinent, these styles crystallized into a new art form, mainly from Iran. They entered this area. Of course, the styles inspired by Iran, along with the developments of Morian art in the third century BC and the developments in the mughal arts in the sixteenth century AD, quickly and dramatically changed in each case under the influence of Indian artistic environment and taste. Perhaps the main reason for this artistic exchange is the strong interrelationships between the two regions in antiquity and also after the middle ages. It was the Islamic civilization of India or other neighbouring civilizations that had considerable resistance to change, so it is not surprising that the Iranian spirit, which was still evident throughout the Indian subcontinent, stemmed from much older influences than Islamic influences. These influences were later reinforced by many of the Mughal kings and rulers of India due to their friendly relations with Iran.Another major factor in the direct impact of Iranian miniature art on the subcontinent was the migration of prominent artists from Iran to India after the establishment of the Safavid rule and the spread of Iranian painting and miniature art in the subcontinent. Therefore, the aim of this study, which uses the descriptive-analytical method, is to understand the depth and richness of the impact of Iranian art on Pakistani art as part of the subcontinent and to study the artistic elements in their miniatures.For this purpose, first, a summary of mughal miniature art before and after the arrival of the Muslims in India is given, then the contemporary miniature art of Pakistan is studied by analyzing the works of two contemporary Pakistani artists from a selected list of Pakistani artists after independence. The present study is important because unfortunately today only a little recorded evidence of Pakistani miniature art remains, so the study of traditional Pakistani miniature art can be a basis for recognizing and preserving this art for the use of other artists in future researches.it can be estimated that the new art form, known as contemporary painting or neo-miniature, began in the 1970s and quickly gained special popularity in the international art scene. Among these artists is Zuhur al-Akhlaq, which created a new aesthetic design and concept in miniature painting. Iranian painters also played a very important role in the development of mughal art. Based on findings, the influence of the Iranian style was so profound that over the centuries, many traces of it can be seen in contemporary Pakistani miniature art. In addition, evidence of the Iranian style in modern Pakistani miniature art, shows how neighbouring countries can influence each other over time, which can accept various changes, but not completely disappear. It can be said that Iranian miniature art has significantly influenced the contemporary miniature art of Pakistan. Contemporary artists, in particular, have used elements such as atmosphere, composition, colouring and performance styles of Iranian paintings, but there are significant changes and themes in their works, including the use of myths, and various symbols, even subvert the themes in order to induce a new meaning and concept of the achievements of these artists. Contemporary Pakistani artists have shown with their works that despite the current perception, Iranian painting has many capabilities for expressing contemporary themes and preserving valuable art of their ancestors.