TEHRAN -- The symbolism of color in the poetry of Hafez, one of the most celebrated figures in Persian literature, was the focus of a research program in the central Iranian city of Garmsar, where literary analysis and traditional music were combined to explore the poet’s imagery and mystical themes.
The event, held in conjunction with commemorations honoring Hafez, brought together literary enthusiasts, researchers and the director general of the Semnan Province Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Its central theme was green, one of the colors examined in a broader study of the poet’s collected works.
Color has long served as more than a descriptive device in Persian literature, often carrying associations with emotion, transformation and spiritual understanding. Examining its use in Hafez’s Divan, a collection of his poems, offers a way to investigate how visual imagery contributes to the layered meanings of his verse.
The program combined a scholarly presentation, close readings of selected poems and traditional musical performances chosen to complement the subject. Organizers said the approach was intended to connect literary research with artistic expression and make its findings accessible to a wider audience.
Hamid Kazemi, the author and researcher behind the study, said the project was the result of years of research and had been developed for presentation through lectures, articles and music.
He said the study examines colors in Hafez’s poetry in two broad categories: tangible, material colors and less tangible colors associated