Ali Mohammad Heydarian is considered a major proponent of naturalist movement in Iranian Modern art. His keen observation and careful rendering of the landscape details, and his responsiveness for changing lights and colors is well evident in the present piece. The hot midday sunshine shown in a dusty pathway perfectly manifests the artist’s thorough understanding of color and value contrasts.
The main elements of the painting are rendered in ease, using bright touches, which makes a diversion from the conventional detailed rendering popular with Kamal-ol-Molk school. Although Heydarian was a favorite pupil and closely influenced by Kamal-ol-Molk, he managed to establish a fairly personal approach, marked with brighter colors and comparatively free brushwork. His work has been generally considered superior in naturalism, especially in its faithful and vivid representation of Iranian landscapes. His art has been noticed to fully echoe Iranian climate characteristics.
As a distinguished pupil, much trusted by the master, Heydarian excelled in Sanaya Mustazrafa School (Fine Arts School) and was soon appointed as oil technique instructor. He continued teaching in the school until its last days.
Ali Mohammad Heydarian was a founder a first professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts in the University of Tehran (Established 1940), Along with A.H. Sedighi, H.A. Vaziri and Mohsen Moghadam. His historical, formative role in the development of Iranian modern art is thus well established. The present piece clearly reveals his awareness of classical as well as modern developments of Western art, while showing to an attempt to retain local vision and manner.