A Portrait of a Statesman 1852 - 1902

This is a portrait of a statesman by Yahya Ghaffari, dating from the later 19th century, made with opaque watercolour, ink and gold on paper. It's a meticulous work, not just in the rendering of the subject, but in the depiction of his clothing. His patterned robe immediately suggests the global trade in textiles that was underway at this time. The pattern may even be a precursor to paisley, derived from Kashmir shawls that were highly desirable in Europe. The very fact that the statesman is wearing such an item speaks volumes about his position in society, as does his bejeweled adornment. The amount of labor involved in this type of painting should not be underestimated. Each detail would have required countless hours of dedicated work, building up layers of pigment to achieve the desired effect. By focusing on the making of this image, we can better appreciate its cultural and historical significance, challenging our assumptions about the hierarchy of art and craft.