An Aesthetical Study on the Painting of “The Flee of Yusuf from Zulaikha” According to the Religious Texts and the Theological Literature of Jami

Among the stories of the holy Quran, the story of Yusof and Zulaikha has always been a topic of interest for writers and poets. The story that is one of the most significant stories in Islamic culture focuses on many social behaviors and has always been one of the most significant social events. Different scenes of the story is also portrayed in different schools of painting. The story of Yusef and Zulaikha because of its many moral and ethical features has been depicted greatly compared to the other stories of this prophet. The painting of “the flee of Yusuf from Zulaikha” by Behzad is one of the most significant artworks in the history of Persian art. In this paper, the theological aspects of this event from the viewpoint of the Holy Quran, religious texts and also the religious literature of Jami, the famous Persian poet of the fifth/ninth century all indicate the aesthetical perspective of this painting and its affiliation with religious interpretations. The conclusion of this study reflects the fact that the painter of this work of art was influenced by religious theology and the paintings is illustrated based on these mentioned traits. The paper follows a historical and analytical methodology and data is collected via library and documentation research.