Journal of Documentary and Archival Studies
Scientific Journal

Architecture and Women’s Clothing in the Paintings of Kamāl al-Dīn Bihzād: A Comparative Study with Emphasis on the Limitations of Representation in Timurid Illustrated Manuscripts

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zahra Nabizade Koukia 1
Azita Belali Eskoui 2

1 MA, Architectural Engineering, Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

10.30481/psa.2026.539545.1091
Abstract
Iranian miniature paintings, especially the works of Kamal al-Din Behzad, have long served as valuable visual sources for understanding historical realities such as lifestyle, clothing styles, architecture, and more. This study aims to explore the relationship between women's clothing and the architectural features of spaces depicted in Behzad’s miniatures. The main research question addresses the nature of the relationship between women's attire and architectural elements in Behzad’s works. The research method is descriptive-analytical with a qualitative approach. The statistical population consists of 13 miniatures attributed to Kamal al-Din Behzad. The findings revealed that there are limited correlations between the women's clothing and the architectural spaces depicted. This relationship is mainly observed in the form of color similarities between clothing and architectural elements, with certain miniatures showing color harmony between the garments of the figures and the surrounding architectural details. However, no significant correlation was found regarding other features, such as the form of clothing or decorative patterns, in relation to the architectural elements. It appears that the simultaneous depiction of clothing and architecture in the miniatures is more influenced by the artist’s aesthetic preferences and the narrative nature of the artworks than by an accurate representation of the social realities of the time.

Keywords

Persian Miniature
Female Dress
Architectural Elements
Kamāl al-Dīn Bihzād
Timurid Period
Subjects
Journal of Documentary and Archival Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 September 2026

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