“Zurkhaneh” and “Ashura” in the art of Sargis Zakarian

The article analyzes aspects of the representation of religion in the paintings of Sargis Zakarian ( Vaspur), a representative of modern Iranian art. Born and raised in Iran, Zakarian was significantly influenced by Iranian culture, Islam, and the interconnection between religion and daily life, which is reflected in his works. As an Armenian Christian with a profound interest in Islam, he accurately identified phenomena distinct from traditional Armenian national and religious imagery, especially those related to the artistic expressions characteristic of Shia Muslims. Zakarian’s work from that period has not been extensively studied. Although not all of his works have survived, fortunately, some have been preserved and discovered.