Nazanin Jahangir
Nazanin Jahangir’s works are intrinsically linked with the Western concept of female portraiture. They represent the spirit, confidence, and courage of Iranian women who have experienced systematic and structural discrimination. The female bodies are loosely painted, yet they share a conceptual density and layered messaging. At first sight, the viewer might see a beautifully painted face, yet that face carries the heavy burden of seeking freedom. Jahangir uses the Western medium of acrylic paint on canvas, while her portraits depict young Iranian women, capturing their potential and exploring the historic authority of women in Iranian culture.
Influenced by the elegant Secession era paintings of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, she manages to bring across her own emotions and the feelings of these young women without falling into the trap of simply copying the Austrian masters. The broad eyebrows and large eyes clearly point to their heritage and cultural identities, whilst their style of clothing hints at their aspirations. “Women, life, freedom” is the slogan of all of them.
Work
![Girl with monkey in the lemon garden, 2023 Acrylic on canvas 39⅜ x 37⅜ in. 100 x 95 cm](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Girl-with-monkey-in-the-lemon-garden.jpeg)
![It is not Dream, 2023 Acrylic on canvas 63 x 51⅛ in. 160 x 130 cm.](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/It-is-not-Dream.jpeg)
![Let me be myself, human, 2022 Acrylic on canvas 35⅜ x 31½ in. 90 x 80 cm](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Let-me-be-myself-human.jpeg)
![For the Innocent Forbidden Dogs, 2022 Acrylic on canvas 27½ x 21⅝ in. 70 x 55 cm.](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/For-the-Innocent-Forbidden-Dogs.jpeg)
![Woman, Life, Freedom, 2022 Acrylic on canvas 27½ x 21⅝ in. 70 x 55 cm.](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Woman-Life-Freedom.jpeg)
![Green Dress, 2021 Acrylic on canvas 29½ x 25⅝ in. 75 x 65 cm](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Green-Dress.jpeg)
![Waiting for Spring, 2021 Acrylic on canvas 39⅜ x 27½ in. 100 x 70 cm](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Waiting-for-Spring.jpeg)
![Untitled, 2020 Acrylic on canvas 35⅜ x 31½ in. 90 x 80 cm.](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Untitled-908x1024.jpeg)
![We are free with our colors, 2020 Acrylic on canvas 15¾ x 11¾ in. 40 x 30 cm.](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/We-are-free-with-our-colors-786x1024.jpeg)
![Girl in White Robe, 2020 Acrylic on canvas 47¼ x 39⅜ in. 120 x 100 cm.](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Girl-in-White-Robe-752x1024.jpeg)
![Girl Sewing, 2019 Acrylic on canvas 15¾ x 11¾ in. 40 x 30 cm](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Girl-Sewing-771x1024.jpeg)
![Summer Time, 2021 Acrylic on canvas 51⅛ x 31½ in. 130 x 80 cm](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summer-Time.jpeg)
All images of artworks were taken by Jorit Aust.
![](https://amirshariat.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/f057d39b-2214-42f2-8cd3-c96c8d79c981-2.jpg)