Parvaneh Etemadi; The Lady of Silence and Colors She painted simply but expressed deeply

Parvaneh Etemadi, one of the prominent figures of contemporary Iranian painting, passed away during the days when the Iranian art scene was mourning the loss of Kamran Katouzian. Living always in the shadows—quietly yet powerfully—she left behind a legacy of color and thought that will remain in the minds of art lovers for years to come.

She was a painter who spoke in silence. Her works were not screams but gentle whispers of things forgotten over time. She transformed simple, overlooked objects of daily life into magnificent subjects: sharpened pencils, worn-out erasers, and old books imbued with the scent of memory. At first glance, her works speak a minimalist language, but within every detail lies hidden meaning. Her art is not only a record of erosion and the passage of time, but also a tribute to things that have silently lived alongside us.

Minimalism in Etemadi’s works was not merely an aesthetic choice, but a statement—a statement against aimless clutter. By removing the unnecessary, she directed the viewer’s gaze toward the essence and soul of objects. Even with limited and soft color palettes, she achieved a visual silence, as though her objects were suspended in a moment frozen in time. Perhaps this is why her paintings evoke such a deep sense of nostalgia, as if each one is a window into a past we never truly detach from.

The Beginning: From Childhood to the Art World

Parvaneh Etemadi was born in Tehran in the 1940s. From a young age, she showed signs of a unique sensitivity and attentiveness to her surroundings. She grew up with a love for drawing and painting, continuing her studies in the same direction. Studying at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran marked the serious beginning of her career. There, she not only honed her technique but also shaped her intellectual and artistic identity.

Simple Yet Profound Paintings

Etemadi is best known for her paintings in which everyday objects—like cigarette packs, suitcases, books, and even stones—became the main subjects. She was one of the few artists of her time who, avoiding visual noise, chose simplicity. Yet within that simplicity lay a profound complexity, as though each object in her work concealed an untold story.

Mature Years: The Blossoming of Her Art

In the later decades, her works matured even further. Influenced by minimalism, she never fell into repetition. With unique textures, subtle play of light and shadow, and carefully composed arrangements, she brought life to objects, lifting them beyond their utilitarian purposes. A defining feature of her work was the silence that radiated from them—a silence that was at times heavy and contemplative, and at other times filled with hidden whispers.

Final Years: A Life of Seclusion Yet Productivity

In her final years, Parvaneh Etemadi made fewer appearances in art circles. Always distanced from the noise, she withdrew even more deeply into her own world. But this did not mean she was inactive—she continued to create, continued to explore. Her works were still exhibited both in Iran and abroad and continued to receive admiration.

The End of a Path, The Beginning of Permanence

Parvaneh Etemadi has left us, but her art remains. She was an artist who never shouted, but left an impact—who painted simply but expressed with depth—who lived in seclusion, yet etched herself into the minds of many. Her name will forever live on not only in the history of contemporary Iranian art but also in the hearts of all those who seek beauty in silence.

By Houra Khakdaman– Curator and Art Critic

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