finished Youth 1951

Hossein Behzad made this miniature, "Finished Youth", probably with gouache, and the color is laid down in flat planes. It’s not trying to create an illusion of depth, but instead embraces the surface. I love the way Behzad uses these glowing oranges and reds that are both warm and intense. Look at the countless tiny leaves, each one perfectly placed with incredible patience. It’s like he's building up a world one leaf at a time. You can almost feel the texture of the paper or parchment underneath, and how he coaxes the paint into these tiny details. My eye is drawn to the old man's beard, how the white contrasts with the orange of his robe. Behzad’s work reminds me a bit of Matisse, especially his paper cutouts. They both have this incredible sense of color and decorative patterning. Art is all about conversations across time and cultures, and in these gorgeous miniatures the dialogue is rich and multilayered.