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Picasso and Farah Diba pahlavi
April 6th, 2008
Farah Pahlavi, the queen of Iran, is still alive and well, but people are not talking about her much. Things changed when it was reported last month that “the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art has put on display an exhibition that art experts call the most important collection of modern Western art outside Europe and the United States.” In the 1970′s she collected great works of art – about 150 paintings – by Picasso, Monet, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, etc…
I bought some old Paris Match magazines some years ago in Paris spanning from 1958 through 1969. It was interesting to see her on the cover from practically the minute she met the Shah in Paris. I put some of the photos from Paris Match together to share them with you.
She lived a Cinderella story that turned sour at the age of 41 after the Iranian revolution of 1979.
In spite of my belief that monarchy is absurd in the 21st century, it seems like I can’t shake my affinity for this woman; the fact that we both went to the same school (Jeanne d’Arc of Tehran) and had to endure the same French nuns may not have much to do with it.
The deposed queen has somehow survived the animosity that follows the Pahlavis wherever they go. At the minimum she should be applauded for amassing a collection of priceless art, as opposed to worthless shoes or stolen jewelry (see Queen Elizabeth and Imelda Marcos).
Her good reputation lasted way longer than her jewelry.
Two of her kids committed suicide: Leila and AliReza Pahlavi; that would be way more painful than losing a country. Aside from her oldest son, the other three never really had a chance…
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April 7th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Malgré tout ce que l’histoire véhicule, il nous appartient, individuellement, de faire la part des choses.
La reine Farah Pahlavi, demeure pour moi une Femme avec un grand “F”, une personne qui a dû faire face à beaucoup d’ignominies et de souffrances morales terribles.
J’ai un profond respect pour elle et une très grande admiration.
Je suis très émue que vous ayez mis en ligne ces paris-Match que j’ai feuilletés quand j’étais enfant.
Merci Michèle.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Dear Michele, art collecting cannot be a saving grace for anyone. The greatest art collector of the 20th century was Hermann Goering. Nothing should be taken out of context. No art is worth a bad system. The Hermitage in Communist Moscow was kept in order as an excuse for the government.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Ainsi, Farah Pahlavi avait du goût en matière de peinture, mais un goût éclectique : Monet, Warhol, Pollock…Etablir un parallèle entre Farh Pahlavi et Hermann Goering est pour le moins surprenant. En effet, s’il en avait eu la possibilité, Goering n’aurait sûrement pas collectionné les oeuvres de Warhol et Pollock qu’il aurait rangées dans la catégorie de l’art “décadent”.
Au demeurant, j’ai vu à la télévision il y a quelques mois une longue interview de cette femme. Je l’ai trouvée raisonnablement intelligente, parfois émouvante et encore très belle.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:36 am
“Art collecting cannot be a saving grace for anyone” I can’t agree with these words. Il y a d’abord les peintres que l’on collectionne. Renoir et Picasso n’ont pas le même arrière-plan contextuel. On peut donc se demander si l’on collectionne une oeuvre pour ce qu’elle vaut (ou ce qu’elle représente dans l’histoire de l’art) ou pour ce qu’elle est, pour l’émotion qu’elle fait naître en nous.
Si l’on privilégie ce dernier point, je suis persuadé que l’art peut sauver (to be a saving grace) l’Homme.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Right on Tamos Ungvari!
April 7th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Farah Pahlavi is no longer the Queen of Iran. There was a revolution in 1979 that toppled the monarchy in Iran for good. There is no monarchy any more to have a queen.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Dear Michele,
your site is great , Your pictures and posts also!
I think nowadays your vision is unique in all the world…
April 7th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Merci pour les photos, chere Michele, mais je dois avouer que je suis completement en accord avec notre cher professeur.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Philippe Caralp’s answer to Tamas Ungvari answers in one way. I wonder why a person, such as Queen Farah Pahlavi is considered only on the art/culture level? She did so much for science, women, the handicapped, the lepers and so many more. Queen Farah HUMANIZED the regime if you will. And yes, Muhammad Sahimi, the monarchy is no more, but she is still “Queen” in my heart and in the hearts of many others.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:56 am
I LOVE YOUR WORKS MY IRANIAN FRIEND
April 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Although Koran says, “The place for those who exhibit beauty, is the paradise”, Iran, now, is covering up her women and not letting them exhibit their beauty. Who is right? The Koran or Iran?
Askin Ozcan
Author of
“SMALL MIRACLES”, “WISDOM IN SMILE”,
“LIGHTNING AND A BOUQUET OF ROSES” and other books.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:35 am
wow . I love your work & I have the same opinion about Queen farah pahlavi.
can I link u ?
lili
April 1st, 2009 at 12:05 pm
She used to be my idol in my childhood days. I have spent my pockmet money just to buy the magazins when pictures of her were published. I still admire her, now even more. She is a great lady, a specie very rare nowadays. As a schoolgirl in the early 1960 I admired her not only because of her good looks and beautiful fashion, but for the fact that to me she was a most emanzipated woman, having tackled to study such a mans domain as architecture. And strangely enough the woman I admired so much was not from the United states or Europe, but came from an Islamic country. Much later I went to Iran and found the women pretty amazing, despite all the unfounded religious repression.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:16 am
I like her also.
I wrote her an e-mail and she wrote me back even.
How about that!
March 28th, 2010 at 7:03 am
دورود بر بزرگ بانوی سرزمین آریایی ایران اولیا حضرت ملکه فرح دیبا مادر مهربانمان. انشالله که در هر کجای این دنیا که دور از وطن خوبی ها و بدی های این روزگار را می گذارانند در پناه خداوند متعال سلامت و پر انرژی در کنار اعلاحضرت همایونی رضاشاه دوّم لحظات خوبی را داشته باشند…از شما اربابم دستور و از من اطاعت…خادم شما بهنام از آمل
July 28th, 2010 at 10:11 am
we love u , queen farah
September 8th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
hargez IRAN malakei mesle shoma be khod nakhahad did…..ma ham chenan to ra madare aryaei khod midanim..
va pedare tajdar ra khodayegan bar ma betab… hamishe sabz bashid..MY QUEEN
January 6th, 2011 at 1:02 am
از خبر درگذشت علیرضاخیلی متاسف شدم
خیلی در زندگی غم دیدی
آرزوی سلامتی وصبر برای شماآرزومندم
January 8th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
The Empress FARAH PAHLAVI will always be the Great QUEEN of Iran and in Iranians Heart.
Long live the Queen and Reza Pahlavi.
January 10th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Liebe Shahbanu !
Ich weises nicht wie kann mein Beileid aus
drücken!!
Ich Shahla Salimi Da mals schefin in belotehck
in Rasht !!
Ich geborene Tochter von Amir Salimi Höherer
Beamter innenMinsterium
U Tochter von Mein MaMa Mohtermsadadt MOSAWIE.
Arteschbod ( General Marschal der luft waffe)
Hr CHATAM Mit Prinzessin FATEME war ihr schwager
Shah von IRAN !
Aber Lt mein mama Hr General Marsch worde
Ermordet Das Wurde Für unsere famile bis heutiege
tag nicht erkläert !!!!!!!!!
Mfg
Shahla Salimi (Kreiner)
January 10th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
ICH WÜNSCH aLES GUTE u BALDIGE WieDER SEHEHEN
IN UNSERM Reichen VATTER LAND!!
Mfg
Shahla
January 29th, 2011 at 8:50 am
These pictures are great. Queen Farah is embodiment of style, dignity and grace.May she be in peace after tragic death of her two children.
February 10th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
باسلام به بانوی ایران.هرگزبه زیبایی شما ندیدم ونخواهم دید.درتمام طول عمرم ارزوی دیدنتان رامیکشم.بهخاطرتمام رنجهایی که کشیدیدبرایتان متاسفم وازخدا برایتان طول عمرتوام باسربلندی میطلبم.خیلی دوست دارم برای یکبار هم که شده صدایتان رابشنوم.آیا آرزوی مرا براورده میکنید؟به امیدآنروز
February 16th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
سلام فرح دیبا حسرت می خورم از اینکه ملکه ی زیبایی مثل شما را از دست دادم موقعی که زندگی نامه ی واقعی شما را خواندم اشکم در آمد شاید این یک حادثه ی تاریخی بود که این بلا سر شما آمد امیدوارم همیشه شاد باشید
March 3rd, 2011 at 12:26 pm
زرتشت بيا كه با تو اميد آيد
شب نيز صداي پاي خورشيد آيد
تاريخ اگر دوباره تكرار شود
كعبه به طواف تخت جمشيد آيد
March 7th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
کاش مقاومت میکردید مثل همه کسایی که الان ایران رو تو دستشون گرفتن و هیچ جوره هم کوتاه نمیان و زندگی همه ما رو به بازی گرفتن کاش مشد به ما کمک کرد .
March 9th, 2011 at 8:44 am
دیشب یک شب اعتراضی دیگر بود(3شنبه17 اسفند 89) و من با خود می خواندم که خود کردید و بد کردید و بجای نور ظلمت بپا کردید
خدایا این ناسپاسی کی بخشیده خواهد شد.
اما ندای درونی من می گوید روز نزدیک است
March 19th, 2011 at 8:17 am
i’ve heard about farah deeba pahlavi a lot but who is she , really? what is her personality and her donations to the people of iran back on those days? i am curious to know more. thank you
April 17th, 2011 at 9:08 am
سلام بر بانوی ایران. شما هر جای دنیا که باشید جایتان در قلب ما و یادتان در ذهن ماست.
April 28th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
آيا درسته ايشون و گوگوش تبريزين ؟ عجب زنايي دارن تبريزيا
September 26th, 2011 at 1:54 am
Na minha infância tinha maior admiração pela rainha Farah Diba! Guardei até uma foto dela de uma revista brasileira chamada MANCHETE, onde a ela estava com uma coroa e maravilhosa!!!Nunca mais vi nada dessa corajosa mulher.Agora com a internet fui procurar se via alguma coisa e me surpreendi com esta reportagem e fotos tão lindas dela.Gostaria de ter noticias dessa rainha que foi para mim motivo de admiraçao e respeito!