Shirin Neshat

This is an untitled black and white photo by Shirin Neshat (1996). The photo consists of (presumably) a mother and her child. The mother is extremely covered up in a burqa that runs down her entire face and body. The only body part seen is her arm and hand, which is holding the hand of the boy. The boy, meanwhile, is completely naked and has henna designs drawn all over his body. The picture definitely gives off an unsettling feeling because the woman is highly covered up and protected while the boy is completely naked and vulnerable, playing against many societal beliefs that children should be protected while women stay naked (or at least scantily clad). These polar opposites powerfully bring awareness to Islamic culture and the huge division between men and women liberties. The child's nudity symbolizes a greater amount of freedom and exposure entitled to males than females. His henna designs also indicate not only the idea of Islam being ingrained in children at an early age, but also the notion that a male's word, like the word of Islam, is law. The woman, meanwhile, is nothing but a shadow in society. She has no exposure or freedom. Her whole identity is blacked out except the hand linking to the boy, pointing out that her sole existence is to raise the male child.