The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Representation of National Identity and Social Critique within the Context of Syrian Modernity in the Paintings of Tawfiq Tarek

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2025.539460.5870
Volume 22, Issue 150
December 2025
Pages 49-58
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Yaqub Talebi 1
Mehdi Mohammadzadeh 2

1 Department of Painting, Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Arts, Urmia University, Iran

2 Department of Ceramics, Faculty of Fine Arts, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

Abstract
Problem statement: Tawfiq Tarek, one of the prominent painters of the Syrian Ruwad generation, employs academic and Orientalist styles along with the oil painting medium to depict historical identity and deliver social critique. His works — outwardly conservative yet inherently purposeful — address social decay and invite the audience to resist foreign domination. History in his paintings functions as a mirror for contemporary issues, and he is regarded not only as an artistic pioneer but also as a socially, historically, and nationally committed artist. Moreover, considering his modern approach to art education and his role in shaping artistic and national self-awareness in modern Syria, inspired by French teachings, Tarek’s works, while reflecting social concerns, focus on national identity and cultural resistance. This study aims to explore how Tawfiq Tarek’s paintings express social critique and reinforce national self-awareness within the framework of Arab and Syrian modernity, through the use of academic and Orientalist styles and the oil painting medium.
Research objective: This study analyzes his paintings within the context of contemporary Syrian modernity focusing on eight selected works by Tawfiq Tarek. The present research redefines his place in the history of Syrian art through analytical tables and visual documentation, and emphasizes the continuity of themes such as identity and resistance.
Research method: The research employs a descriptive-analytical method, utilizing tools such as visual analysis and the examination of historical texts.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that Tawfiq Tarek’s works, through the use of academic and Orientalist styles and the oil painting medium, offer a purposeful critique of social decay while reinforcing historical identity, national self-awareness, and cultural resistance. His artistic commitment goes beyond mere aesthetics, serving social critique and contributing to the formation of modernity in Syria, which establishes him as a pioneering model of socially engaged art in the Arab world.

Keywords

Engaged Art
Modern Painting
Arab Modernity
National Identity
Social Critique
Tawfiq Tarek.
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