نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 دانشجوی دکتری تاریخ تطبیقی و تحلیلی هنر اسلامی-دانشکده هنر-دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی تهران مرکزی
2 استاد، دانشکده هنر، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکزی
3 استادیار گروه معماری، دانشکده معماری، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکزی، تهران، ایران.
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
The wall murals of Qajar-era houses in Amol reflect the intricate artistic and cultural interactions of the period, representing a unique fusion of floral, animal, and geometric elements. With the East-West exchanges during the Qajar dynasty, visual art and architecture in Iran underwent significant innovations. However, much of the existing research has focused on narrative or symbolic motifs related to mythological or religious themes, with limited attention paid to non-narrative motifs that play a critical role in the visual and cultural identity of architecture in northern Iran. This research aims to identify the dominant themes in the wall murals of Qajar houses in Amol and analyze the symbolic meanings of non-narrative motifs, especially floral, animal, and geometric forms, in the context of local beliefs and aesthetics. The research questions are as follows:
1. What thematic elements can be observed in the wall murals of these historical houses?
2. What symbolic meanings are conveyed by the geometric, floral, and animal motifs?
This qualitative research is based on a descriptive-analytical approach. Data collection involved library studies, field observations, photography, and semi-structured interviews with local residents and experts. The statistical population includes Qajar-era houses in Amol, of which 14 houses were identified. However, only 8 were selected as samples due to structural integrity and permission for documentation. The sampling method was non-random and purposive, focusing on houses with observable and analyzable non-narrative motifs. The analysis employed a semiotic framework, focusing on the visual and symbolic content of the selected motifs. Non-narrative motifs have often been marginalized in research despite their crucial role in expressing cultural aesthetics and architectural identity. By focusing on these motifs, this study contributes to a better understanding of the decorative vocabulary of Qajar architecture in the northern region of Iran. Moreover, it highlights the artistic responses of local craftsmen to religious, environmental, and socio-cultural influences, and can inform conservation practices for endangered heritage structures.
The motifs identified in the murals fall into five categories: floral, animal, geometric, human, and symbolic. This study centers on non-narrative motifs—specifically floral, animal, and geometric—while omitting human and symbolic motifs due to their stronger ties to religious or mythological narratives. In the animal category, the peacock is interpreted as a symbol of protection against evil, the dove as a symbol of blessing, the rabbit as a sign of intelligence and triumph, and the shaneh-be-sar (a mythical bird) as a metaphor for the perfect human. It should be noted that motifs such as deer and lion were excluded from this study, as they only appeared in narrative compositions (e.g., hunting scenes or symbolic human-animal interactions), not as independent figures. In the floral group, the cypress tree symbolizes immortality and the "tree of life," while vase compositions are interpreted as elements designed to enhance the visual rhythm and harmony of the walls. In the geometric motifs, the shamseh (sunburst) motif emerges as a key element symbolizing order, energy, and movement within architectural space. The findings illustrate the deep connection between artistic motifs and cultural values in Qajar-era architecture in Amol. Non-narrative elements, despite their apparent simplicity, are rich in symbolic meaning and play a vital role in shaping the visual identity of traditional architecture in northern Iran. Understanding these motifs not only enriches our appreciation of Qajar aesthetics but also serves as a foundation for heritage preservation and cultural continuity.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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