A 105 Year -old Farmer Form Qamsar Kashan 1993

This pencil drawing portrays a 105-year-old farmer from Qamsar, Kashan, capturing the profound essence of age and wisdom. The flowing white beard immediately brings to mind images of patriarchal figures, from religious icons to mythological characters, universally representing knowledge and authority. Consider the symbol of the beard, echoing through time from ancient philosophers to the prophets of old. This motif recurs across cultures and centuries, embodying sagacity, resilience, and the weight of experience. The detailed lines etched onto the farmer's face are not unlike the wrinkles on the faces of the Laocoön, each one telling a story of survival. The composition evokes a sense of timelessness. The artist captures an emotional depth that resonates beyond cultural boundaries. The eyes, though aged, hold a spark of vitality. Ultimately, Katouzian invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life, where the old carry echoes of the past while facing the future with enduring strength, a visual embodiment of collective memory.