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Nurmohammadi M, Zarezadeh F, Raeisi I. (2025). The Pattern of Replication in the Works of Contemporary Women Painting Artists: A Case Study of the 11th Iranian Miniature Biennial. JIC. 9(1), 179-207. doi:10.61882/jic.9.1.389
URL: http://jih-tabriziau.ir/article-1-389-en.html

Traditional miniature painting, for its survival, requires interaction with contemporary miniature art, while contemporary miniature painting itself owes its foundations to traditional schools of this art. This interconnection has led to the concept of copying (mathnā-bardāri) being discussed as a distinct branch within contemporary miniature studies. Copying refers to a process where the principles of traditional schools are preserved while also enabling the creation of innovative works. Miniature biennials, serving as visual collections of contemporary artworks, provide an appropriate platform for studying emerging trends in this art form. Accordingly, the present study focuses on the 11th Iranian Painting Biennial (2022). In this biennial, 48 works by 27 female miniature painters were presented, from which 11 were selected through purposive sampling. The selection criteria included the clarity of connection with the reference miniature, the repetition of formal elements, and the extent of recreation of visual structures. The research was conducted through a descriptive–analytical approach based on comparative stylistics. Data were collected through library research on the principles and characteristics of miniature painting schools and a comparative study of contemporary works with traditional examples. This method provides a clearer understanding of the copying process and its role in preserving tradition, reviving concepts, and fostering innovation in contemporary miniature art. The findings reveal that contemporary women miniaturists maintain a deep connection with traditional schools through two main approaches: first, direct copying, wherein visual structures and stylistic elements of past schools are concretely recreated; and second, creative reinterpretation, where artists, inspired by traditional symbols and meanings, produce innovative personal works. These two approaches coexist, and copying not only serves as a tool for preserving tradition but also establishes a foundation for innovation and the expansion of contemporary miniature art’s visual language.