Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

Re-reading of Mystical and Symbolic Concepts in the Painting "Badehnoshi" (Wine-Drinking) by Reza Abbasi: Based on Analysis with a Peircean Semiotic Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Maryam Aziminezhad 1
Shima Keshtkar 2
1 Department of Handicrafts, Faculty of Arts, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
2 Department of Islamic Art. Faculty of Art. University of Birjand. Birjand, Iran
10.22034/ias.2026.558438.2438
Abstract
Reza Abbasi, one of the most prominent Persian painters of the Safavid period, holds a distinguished place in the history of Persian painting by combining the tradition of Behzad's realism with attention to the emotional and intellectual dimensions of humanity. In the painting "Badehnoshi" from the illustrated version of Hafez's Divan, a profound manifestation of the connection between Persian painting and Islamic mysticism is observed; a connection that has gained particular importance in some historical periods, especially in the art of book illumination. This research aims to examine the degree of Reza Abbasi's fidelity to the mystical concepts of Hafez's poetry and the methods of conveying these concepts in the visual structure of the work. The study is organized with a descriptive-analytical approach within the framework of Peirce's triadic semiotics (Icon, Index, and Symbol), and the painting itself has been considered as the main community and tool of analysis. In this process, the visual signs present in the painting were extracted and analyzed based on their semiotic function and mystical implications to reveal how key mystical concepts of Hafez, including divine love, separation, spiritual journey, liberation, and unity, are represented in the pictorial form. The findings indicate that Abbasi, through the conscious selection of visual elements, the precise use of composition, and the integration of symbols and colors, has been able to artistically and perceptibly translate Hafez's mystical worldview into the language of image for the audience. This demonstrates that the painting "Badehnoshi" is not only a pictorial reflection of Hafez's poetry but also a visual interpretation of his mystical experience.
Research Objectives:


This research examines Reza Abbasi's fidelity to the mystical concepts of Hafez's poetry in the painting "Badehnoshi" and the methods of conveying these concepts in the visual structure of the work.


This research attempts to clarify the relationship between mystical poetry, painting, and semiotics, and to examine how mystical meanings are reflected in Persian visual art.


Research Questions:


What is the degree of Reza Abbasi's adherence to the mystical concepts of Hafez's poetry?


What signs and symbols are used in this painting to convey mystical concepts?
Keywords
Painting of "Badehnoshi" (Wine-Drinking)
Reza Abbasi
Mystical Concepts
Semiotics
Safavid Period
Subjects
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