Color Analysis in the Works of Iranian Painters from 1991 to 2020

Introduction: In the field of visual artworks, being Iranian has always been the concern of some artists. It is sometimes depicted with symbolic Iranian elements or elements attributed to Iran that have explicit or implicit implications. In addition to visual elements, color has also played a role as an independent element in representing the concept of being Iranian. However, the problem of this research is: «From an Iranian artist's point of view, what color is a sign of being Iranian, or is it mostly used for this purpose, or do the painters agree on it as an Iranian color?» This issue has been the focus of discussion in other disciplines; however, this research was conducted aiming at identifying the most frequent colors in paintings whose subject was Iran and presenting the answer to the questions «What are the colors used for the concept of Iran in the works of some Iranian painters from 1991 to 2020 (1370s-1390s S.H.)» and «How these colors are used?»Research Method: This research data was collected using library sources, databases, and articles from reliable scientific journals. The data analysis was done using visual content analysis by collecting the works of Iranian painters from 1991 to 2020 (1370s-1390s S.H.). Accordingly, with the help of color separation software, these works were analyzed, and the most frequently used colors related to Iran were determined and then interpreted.Findings: In the works they created in the name of Iran or for this concept, according to their technique and method of work, Iranian painters used color in addition to shape to represent the concept of Iran. Considering the three colors used the most in this field, first, the Yellow (Pale Goldenrod-Khaki) range; second, the dark and light Blue range; and third, the Lacquer Red (Crimson-Maroon) range were applied. Also, among the works of 10 examined painters, seven painters, along with color, have used visual elements related to Iran, mainly with a clear implication, which is often a representation of Iran's architectural works.Conclusion: Green, Red, and White are the three colors of the Iranian flag, and they have a symbolic expression to represent the concept of Iran. As the color of Iran, they have been used less by painters and designers. Therefore, in addition to the colors of the Iranian flag, there are other colors in the color palette of Iranian painters, which are referred to as the colors of Iran. Hence, in addition to symbolic elements, the painters implicitly used the color associated with Iran for their visual expression. Also, a type of color correlation has been seen in the works of painters whose visual and symbolic elements of architectural landscapes were the basis of their work.