Carl Gustav Jung, the Swiss psychologist, was one of the most important theorists in the field of the collective unconscious and archetypes, and his concepts introduced a new understanding of the relationship between art and psychology. According to Jung, the collective unconscious consists of a set of shared experiences and symbols that have historically accumulated in the collective human mind and are embodied in literary and artistic works, particularly in painting, sculpture, and other forms of visual art. These symbols, which Jung called archetypes, not only influence the artist's personality and individuality but can also play a role in the creative process and the psychological reactions of the audience. Jung believed that one of the most fundamental human instincts is these archetypes, or what could be described as a legacy embedded in the human psyche. Based on this perspective, the artist—especially in visual works—can unconsciously access symbols and archetypes that exist collectively in humanity’s unconscious. These archetypes often manifest in artistic works as specific visual forms, such as the Hero, the Mother and Father, the Persona, the Shadow, and the Anima/Animus. The collective unconscious, expressed through these archetypes in art, reflects the artist's individuation.
The images created by Mohammad Siah Qalam—an artist of the Timurid period—depicting human figures and situations, can on one hand serve as reflections of the artist's own psychological and spiritual themes, while on the other hand, they may subtly and unconsciously influence the emotions and perceptions of the audience. Through detailed portrayals of diverse characters in his works, Siah Qalam may reveal hidden symbols of archetypes such as the Father, the Mother, or the Hero. These manifested symbols in his art can evoke similar unconscious emotions and reactions in the viewer, awakened through deep psychological processes. Images emerging from the collective unconscious represent archetypes that speak to the artist's individuation. This research aims to analyze the collective unconscious and the individuation process in Mohammad Siah Qalam’s paintings based on Jung’s theory, seeking to answer the question: How are archetypes reproduced in Siah Qalam’s works, and what is their connection to the collective unconscious?
This study adopts a descriptive approach, utilizing library and documentary sources with a psychological perspective based on Jung’s archetypal theory to analyze selected works of Mohammad Siah Qalam. The sampling of his works was purposeful, and data analysis was conducted qualitatively.
Findings indicate that, according to Jung’s theory, the collective unconscious is humanity’s historical memory, containing shared images and symbols (archetypes) from ancestral experiences. Archetypes refer to typical or stereotypical characters that are constantly repeated. The analysis of Siah Qalam’s works reveals that he artistically represented these archetypes through depictions of humans, demons, and mythical creatures. The "Shadow," as a symbol of repressed aspects of personality, is manifested in the dark, contorted, and fear-stricken faces of his paintings. These images compel the viewer to reconsider their own unacknowledged aspects, just as Jung saw the acceptance of the "Shadow" as a crucial step in individuation. On the other hand, the "Anima" and "Animus" archetypes appear in Siah Qalam’s works as characters with contradictory gender traits—women with harsh features and men with emotional expressions, reflecting the integration of feminine and masculine aspects in the psyche. This duality, in line with Jung’s view, emphasizes the necessity of balancing these two aspects for psychological wholeness.
Additionally, the "Persona" or social mask is clearly visible in the exaggerated, rounded facial features of his figures. These masks conceal the inner reality of the characters, exposing the conflict between the true self and the social self. The "Hero" archetype in Siah Qalam’s works is depicted as a battle between demons and humans. This symbolic confrontation represents not only the struggle between good and evil but also an internal human battle against psychological obstacles. Siah Qalam’s hero, by overcoming the demon, symbolizes the triumph of individuation and the transcendence of unconscious crises.
Furthermore, the "Trickster," as a symbol of humor and norm-breaking, appears in the bizarre characters of his works. These figures, transcending the boundaries of reality, invite the audience to critique social structures and confront inner contradictions. Another notable aspect is the relative absence of "Nature" in Siah Qalam’s works. While Jung considered nature a source of unconscious symbols, Siah Qalam primarily focuses on human characters and relationships. This may indicate his emphasis on the dark and bright aspects of the human psyche, independent of external environmental representation. However, the depiction of animals and curvilinear forms in his few nature-related works suggests an indirect connection to natural archetypes. In other words, Siah Qalam creates enigmatic images that bridge the artist’s inner world and the collective unconscious of the audience.
By employing mythological elements, fantastical creatures, and mysterious figures, Siah Qalam has unconsciously reproduced Jungian archetypes in the form of cryptic imagery. This representation not only expresses the artist’s individuality but also invites the audience to engage in self-discovery and confront shared human experiences.