Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster

ca. 1990 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster was printed in Iran in the 1990's. It depicts a story relating to the life of Imam Reza who lived during the late 8th century. One day Imam Reza appeared before a hunter and asked him to allow the mother gazelle, who he was about to kill to return to feed her fawn. Imam Reza promised the hunter that if he did, the gazelle would return a couple of days later and submit to her fate. The hunter did as he was asked and when she did indeed return he refrained from killing her in reverence to Imam Reza.

As a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Reza is an important figure for Shi'ite Muslims. In particular Iranian Shi'ites because Imam Reza is buried in Mashad in Iran. His shrine, which is depicted in the background of this poster forms part of the biggest mosque complex in the world. Posters celebrating the life of Imam Reza are very popular and displayed in the home, workplace and religious buildings.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Paper with printed design in coloured ink
Brief description
Poster, paper with printed design in coloured ink, Imam Reza protecting gazelles from a hunter, Iran, ca. 1990.
Physical description
Poster, paper printed with coloured inks. The scene shows a woodland landscape, in the foreground, to the left a man is kneeling on the bank of a stream; the man is wearing a brown cap and a red tunic, he has a quiver full of arrows on his back and a bow and arrow in his hands. On the right bank of the stream is Imam Reza, he is seated and wearing a white robe and has a yellow ethereal glow around his head and above him two brightly coloured birds flutter. Beside him are four gazelles. In the distance the stream leads to a shrine with a golden dome and minaret, behind are mountains. Large in the night sky is the faint outline a man's head, he has facial hair and is wearing a head covering.
Dimensions
  • Length: 50cm
  • Width: 35.2cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Dr Patricia L. Baker
Subjects depicted
Summary
This poster was printed in Iran in the 1990's. It depicts a story relating to the life of Imam Reza who lived during the late 8th century. One day Imam Reza appeared before a hunter and asked him to allow the mother gazelle, who he was about to kill to return to feed her fawn. Imam Reza promised the hunter that if he did, the gazelle would return a couple of days later and submit to her fate. The hunter did as he was asked and when she did indeed return he refrained from killing her in reverence to Imam Reza.

As a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Reza is an important figure for Shi'ite Muslims. In particular Iranian Shi'ites because Imam Reza is buried in Mashad in Iran. His shrine, which is depicted in the background of this poster forms part of the biggest mosque complex in the world. Posters celebrating the life of Imam Reza are very popular and displayed in the home, workplace and religious buildings.
Collection
Accession number
ME.17-2011

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2011
Record URL
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