Entree van de Vrijdagmoskee van Isfahan 1843 - 1854

Eugène Flandin created this print of the Entrance to the Friday Mosque of Isfahan. The print offers an insight into the architecture and public life of 19th-century Iran. Flandin made this print at a time of increasing European interest in, and influence over, the Middle East. We see the mosque not just as a religious site, but as a focal point for social activity, with figures engaged in various daily routines, like the one on the horse. The mosque's visual prominence in the composition suggests its central role in the city's cultural and social fabric. Understanding this work requires considering Iran’s political climate at the time, along with the increasing number of European artists documenting the region. Through careful examination of historical archives, travel accounts, and studies of Islamic architecture, we can better understand the complex relationship between artistic representation and cultural context.