Uzeyir Hajibeyli surounded by azerbaijani composers 1951

Vajiha Samadova painted this group portrait of Uzeyir Hajibeyli and Azerbaijani composers using oil on canvas. The canvas provides a woven foundation upon which the artist built an image that straddles the personal and the official. The visible brushstrokes are a testament to Samadova's labor, building up depth and texture to depict the scene. The clothing drapes and folds, and the plush rug patterns are all rendered through the considered manipulation of paint. This approach imbues the artwork with a sense of life and movement that a smoother, more photographic technique would lack. The material qualities – the sheen of the oil, the way light catches on the textured surface – enhance the visual experience, making it tactile and immediate. Samadova's painting exemplifies a commitment to the craft of painting, where material and process are integral to conveying meaning. The choices she made regarding paint application elevate this genre scene, which would otherwise be a simple portrait, into a dynamic portrayal of cultural figures deeply engaged in their work. The painting is a testament to the enduring power of traditional artistic practices.