Feminising the demon: Dīv iconography, gender and secularising discourses in Qajar visual culture (c. 1789–1925)

Resumen

This study examines the feminisation of dīv figures in Qajar visual culture (c. 1789–1925) and its relation to gendered representations and secularising discourses. Historically, dīvs were perceived as fearsome supernatural beings symbolising the dangers of nature, while women were depicted according to ideals of beauty and passivity. The central research question is: Which visual features of dīvs changed from the pre-Qajar to the Qajar period, and how are these changes reflected across different media and audiences? The aim is to explore how these visual transformations mirror broader social and gender dynamics and to analyse the relationship between dīv iconography and the evolving role of women in society. The study employs a comparative visual analysis and case study methodology. A corpus of manuscript illustrations, tiles, lacquer works, and Qajar prints was selected, and the visual features of dīvs (form, attire, posture, and behaviour) were coded using a systematic analytical framework. This approach allows for the identification of feminisation patterns in dīvs and their connection to the demythologisation of nature and the secularisation of women’s social roles. The findings indicate that dīvs, as embodiments of the dangers of nature, and women, as symbols of beauty and tenderness, became fused in the Qajar period, resulting in dīvs assuming gentler and distinctly feminine forms. These visual transformations reflect broader cultural shifts and the interplay between iconography, gender, and social change.