Critical Illustration in Local Publications of the Late Qajar Period (Case Study: Kashf-al-Asrar, Mashhad)

A large number of currents were created in the Qajar period press including the beginning of critical illustration with socio-political approaches with the growth of the free thought approach and the constitutional revolution. Kashf-al-Asrar, as the first critical illustrated publication in Mashhad, was among the local press during the reign of Ahmad Shah (1909-1925), the first version of which was published in Tehran during 1913. Upon the visit of Abolghasem Parvardin (Moayed al-Sharia Gilani), as its founder and director, the second year of publication continued in Mashhad since late September 1914 which coincided with the First World War. The second year continued for six months until the February 3, 1914 with publishing 17 issues using lithographic and lead printing methods to produce images and text in the Toos publishing house. The present descriptive and analytical study aims to assess the themes, approaches, and objectives of the illustrations in Mashhad Kashf-e-Asrar publication. Based on the findings in the available numbers from the second year (3-17), the editor of Kashf-al-Asrar sought to criticize the performance of ministers and members of parliament, display the dissatisfaction of the masses with their performance, and demonstrate the problems such as opioid use, revocation of publications, and limited representation of special agents. In addition, the publication’s anonymous illustrator was tasked with expressing this attitude and approach in the form of a visual discourse to understand all sections of society, especially the illiterate.