Bahman Mohasses

Private Collection, London (acquired directly from the artist in 1971)

This work is in very good condition. There are some fine and unobtrusive line of craquelures, running approximately 10cm parallel to the black central line of the composition, a further crack above the lower right corner and a 3mm pain loss located approx. 8cm from the lower left corner of the corner tip of the composition. The colours in the catalogue illustration are accurate, with the overall tonality being softer.
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Bahman Mohasses was a prolific and pioneering artist of the Modern Iranian art movement leaving a legacy of works executed in a distinctive style. Often misunderstood during his lifetime, Mohassess was a great master, paving the path for a multitude of emerging contemporary artists.  It was his native town Lahijan, an area on the Caspian coast which initially inspired him to engage with his surroundings; leading him to paint fish, fish nets, the sea and sailors. A humanist and lover of animals his works were often a reflection of society’s brutality and humanity’s mistreatment of nature. Mohassess was fond of portraying still fish alluding to the thoughtless aftermath of oil spills, depicted with soulless dark holes for eyes and gaping mouths, as if in outcry. He used his sombre characters as illustrated puppets, a visual reflection of his personal disappointment in humanity.

After the fall of the political figure Mossadegh, Mohasses left Iran and traveled to Europe to study art; particularly compelled by the Dutch and Flemish Masters, he began to radically develop his painting style. Despite several attempts to establish himself in Italy his works were overlooked by the Italian milieu, which was keenly felt by the artist. He recorded this in a letter to fellow painter Sohrab Sepehri explaining the solo exhibition in Rome was disappointing as collectors were cautious of his longevity on the art scene due to his ethnicity. In his surrogate location, Mohasses felt greatly restricted by his Iranian identity, this cultural constraint plagued his career and manifested itself in the isolated characters depicted in his works. He travelled twice to Iran after the revolution but had trouble adjusting due to his forward thinking and modern aesthetic. In response to his cumulative frustrations, similar to his Irish contemporary, Francis Bacon, often paralleled to Mohasses, methodically destroyed a large body of works after publishing an extensive catalogue raisonée; explaining why his market is restricted and availability of works is so scarce. This act of defiance communicated his disdain for the Iranian population at the time, who often worshipped individuals but did not celebrate or allow for individuality.

His early compositions followed the archetypal rules initiated by Cubist artists however when further developing his style, Mohasses began to paint abandoning formal perspective, instead absorbed in defining space and sentiment within his canvases; successfully producing emotionally charged paintings. The present work affords a window into the isolated nature of Mohasses' disposition. It effectively presents the unique method of expression embodied in his works, employing his characteristically subdued palette, pared down geometric form and the iconic fish character. Mohassess never sought to create beauty; rejecting it, he believed in ugliness instead. He sought to revolutionise artistic trends, in its place portraying a realistic and raw aesthetic. It is perhaps this rejection of accepted norms that fuelled his hermitic lifestyle.

Bahman Mohasses is a legendary figure for modern Iranian art history. When compared to his peers he was executing cutting edge works whilst most were still consumed with calligraphic compositions. His unique style was comparable to the modern artists in Europe at the time. His works are self-referential and predominantly influenced by his personal psyche. The present work is a classic example of Mohasses at his most fascinating; the psychology of his art, the power of his canvas and the life-style that motivated him encompasses this emotive yet subtle subject matter. Undoubtedly one of the most important and sought after artists from Iran, both the Tate and the British Museum have recently acquired several gouaches and works on paper respectively, a well-deserved acknowledgment of this brilliantly avant-garde artist.