Gallery
Quiet Grace
لصافت آرام
Oil paint on canvas
1960
During a calm and quiet period in her life, Maliheh painted a girl who looked toward the future with gentle hope. At the time, she was secretly in love with someone close by, a feeling she kept to herself. In class, she chose the subject from a famous painting and recreated it with Petgar’s support. But the choice was personal. The girl in the portrait seemed to mirror something she couldn’t yet explain, a quiet yearning and a private joy. Quiet Grace is more than a study in light or form. It became a reflection of a moment in her life when love lived silently and beauty came through stillness.
Echoes of Tulips
آوای لاله ها
Oil paint on canvas
1962
Painted as an arranged future quietly approached, Echoes of Tulips holds the weight of emotions that had no place to be spoken. Around this time, Maliheh was nearing a marriage shaped more by tradition than choice. The figures in the painting don’t speak, yet the space between them says everything. There is tenderness, but also distance. A soft tension that lingers, holding back something fragile and real. Tulips, often symbols of love, were chosen for their beauty and their brevity. What blooms here is not just a scene, but a reflection of how it feels to carry love, fear, and uncertainty all at once.
Kamāl Ol-Molk
کمال الملک
Oil paint on canvas
1961
This portrait is based on an image of Kamal Ol-Molk, one of Iran’s most famous artists. He was chosen because of his profile, not only for his legacy in Persian art. His features mirrored the original founders of Darugar: the curve of the nose, the shape of the forehead, a the recession of the hairline all carried a symbolism. In Persian culture, these traits were seen as signs of depth, wisdom, and elevated awareness. It is a reflection of lineage, of spirit passed through generations. In choosing his face, Maliheh honored both a national icon and a personal connection.
Pondering Optimists
خوشبین اندیشمند
Oil paint on canvas
1962
In this piece, a man peers out from behind a window. His expression holds both caution and longing, as if he is caught between staying hidden and stepping forward. The frame of the window creates a quiet boundary, a sense of distance between the subject and the world outside. Painted during a period of emotional intensity, this work reflects Maliheh's feelings of vulnerability, solitude, and watchfulness. It is one of her more imaginative works, likely drawn from her own experience rather than a reference. The result is a portrait of emotional pause, where stillness carries the weight of unspoken thought.
Miveh
میوه
Oil paint on canvas
1955
Miveh presents a still life of fruit arranged with quiet care. The colors are soft but full, the composition simple yet thoughtful. This kind of still life is often used by artists as a starting point to learn form, light, and color. Created during her early years of training, this piece reflects a pause in motion, a sense of quiet reflection. Maliheh painted what she felt more than what she saw, and Miveh shows how even simple subjects can carry emotion, memory, and time.