This photograph belongs to Shadi's world-famous 'Qajar' series of photographs that is inspired by family studio portraiture first introduced to Iran in the late 19th century under the Qajar dynasty (1794-1925). This photograph is edition 3 of 10, measures 39.20 x 27.55 inches (100 x 70 inches) is unframed and in excellent condition.
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Challenging the international preconceptions of women’s roles within an Islamic state, Tehran-based artist Shadi Ghadirian’s photographs draw from her own experiences as a modern woman living within the ancient codes of Shariah law. Inspired by 19th century photographs from the Qajar period – the first portraits to be permitted by religious law – Ghadirian carefully reconstructed the opulent style of these images with the help of many friends: borrowing antique furnishings and costumes, commissioning the painted backdrops, inviting them to pose in the images. Picturing each woman in a bygone era, each scene is jarringly interrupted by the presence of contemporary products – a phone, a telephone, a can of soda, a boom-box, a vacuum – pointing to a culture clash of tradition and progress.

Shadi Ghadirian was born in 1974 in Tehran where she lives and works. Her photographs have been exhibited in the world's top museums, galleries and private collections including The Saatchi Collection, U.K., "165 years of Iranian Photography", Du Quai Branly Museum, Paris; "Masques of Shahrzad", Mall Gallery, London, Guild Art Gallery, New York; Galerie Ernst Hilger, Austria and Arario Gallery, New York. 2008: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Tasweer Gallery, India. 2007:"Photography Festival of Istanbul", Turkey. 2008:"Word Into Art", DIFC, Dubai, UAE; Cramer Contemporary, Switzerland. 2007: "Noorderlicht photofestival", Netherlands
2006: "Word into Art : Artists of the Modern Middle East, The British Museum, London,U.K.; "Blessed are the Merciful", Feigen Contemporary, New York; "Images of the Middle East", dccd, Denmark; "Contemporary Iranian Photography", Gold Cost City Art Gallery, Australia; "Representation and Use of the Body in Art", Galerie Helene Lamarque, Paris, San Jose Museum of Art, California, U.S. amongst countless others.