The Qajar period (1789–1925) was not only a time of political turbulence but also of remarkable artistic and cultural output. The dynasty oversaw a revival in Persian painting, architecture, and literature. Qajar art blended Persian traditions with European realism, resulting in a unique aesthetic seen in portraiture, murals, and decorative arts.
Architecturally, the Qajars left enduring landmarks such as the Golestan Palace in Tehran — a blend of Persian and Western design that became a UNESCO World Heritage site. Public works, including mosques, bridges, and gardens, were built throughout the empire, symbolizing both the grandeur and contradictions of Qajar modernity.
Culturally, the Qajar era saw the expansion of education and printing, introducing new forms of communication that shaped Iran’s emerging public sphere. The founding of the Dar ul-Funun (Polytechnic School) in 1851 under Amir Kabir, the reformist prime minister of Naser al-Din Shah, was a landmark event in Iranian modernization, producing the first generation of Western-educated elites.
