The Aesthetic Construction of Intertextual Relationships between Modern European Painting and Contemporary Iraqi Painting

Abstract

Abstract

The analysis of visual artworks is considered a foundational practice aimed at exploring the formal structure of the artistic composition, uncovering its symbolism and meanings to better understand the visual fabric that contributes to the interpretation of the painting. This research focuses on the aesthetic analysis of intertextual relationships between modern European painting and contemporary Iraqi painting. The study is divided into four chapters. The first chapter: includes the research problem, objectives, and boundaries—specifically

- Topical boundary: studying the aesthetic structure of intertextual relations between modern European painting and contemporary Iraqi painting.

 Temporal boundary: the period between 1870 and 1999-

 Spatial boundary: Europe and Iraq-

The second chapter consists of two sections: the first explores the concept and origins of intertextuality, while the second addresses the philosophy of aesthetics and its historical transformations. The third chapter presents the research methodology, including the population, sample, and analysis. The fourth chapter discusses the findings and conclusions, followed by recommendations and suggestions for future research.

Key findings include:

1. The study revealed multiple intertextual overlaps between modern European painting and contemporary Iraqi painting, characterized by the use of expressive techniques derived from Western modernism within local Iraqi contexts.

2. The analysis demonstrated that Iraqi artists did not merely engage in visual borrowing but reinterpreted symbols and techniques, resulting in a visual discourse embedded in both Western and Eastern cultural references.

Key conclusions:

1. The intertextual relationship between the two painting traditions is not simply one of influence, but a creative dialogue that reflects the dialectic of identity and cultural affiliation.

2. Understanding visual intertextuality enriches the reading of artworks by revealing the philosophical and aesthetic backgrounds shared by Western and Iraqi experiences.