Darvish

The composition depicts a solitary figure clad in a long orange coat, a black belt, and a pointed hat, his moustache visible. He bears an axe slung over his right shoulder, a pose that evokes the traditional image of a dervish or wandering ascetic.

Executed in oil on glass, the painting employs vivid, flat areas of colour—particularly orange, black, and green—combined with simplified forms. This approach aligns with folk‑art aesthetics prevalent in the region during the 1800s, emphasizing bold hues over detailed modeling.

The work entered the holdings of the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Irevani is based on stylistic analysis and the artist’s documented activity in the mid‑nineteenth century.

Irevani worked at a time when Azerbaijani visual culture blended local traditions with influences from Russian and Ottoman artistic currents. ‘Dervish’ reflects this synthesis, presenting a culturally specific subject through a medium—oil on glass—uncommon in Western European painting.