Selfies Are Nothing New

Where: Sackler Gallery

When: closing August 5, 2018

Selfies are a modern scourge, but they have historical antecedents.  For centuries, rulers have been using portraits to project an image of themselves to their subjects; selfies are just a way for everyone (high or low) to do something similar.

The Qajar dynasty in Iran knew very well the impact of a picture and used portraiture in the 19th century to demonstrate their power and nobility to their people.  A Turkic tribe who settled in northern Iran in the 13th century, they gradually conquered and united the country.  They ruled from the late 18th to the early 20th century.

In the 1800s, Iran and its traditional Persian conventions were influenced by European techniques in portraiture and by the advance of photography.  The Qajars used both to depict themselves; they managed to mix the old and the new in the pictures they distributed to their subjects.

Also on display is an example of a termeh cloth, a luxurious traditional Iranian handcraft.  Next to the cloth itself are photographs of Qajar rulers wearing termeh.  For an audience (myself included) that may not be familiar with this type of weaving, it's helpful to see an example to better understand the photographs.

Verdict: If you are interested in the history of portraiture or of Iran, check out this small show.