Kurds Near Kermanshah 1932

Alexandre Jacovleff painted ‘Kurds Near Kermanshah’ showing the social conditions of the Kurdish people through the eyes of an outsider, likely in the 1920s or 30s. Jacovleff's image creates meaning through its depiction of Kurdish people in a specific geographical and cultural context. The painting references Persia, now Iran, and shows what appear to be Kurdish men in traditional clothing. The city of Kermanshah has strategic importance due to its location on ancient trade routes. During the early 20th century, the Kurds experienced significant political and social upheaval. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire, combined with rising nationalist sentiments, led to various Kurdish attempts to establish autonomy. This painting may reflect the artist's view on the social structures and the position of the Kurdish people at that time. Historians often need to look at paintings in the context of colonialism, nationalism and orientalism. By doing so, and using a range of sources, we can understand what it meant to represent people like this during times of great social change.