Abstract

Most are familiar with the concept of Right and Left in politics, a concept related to the French Revolution and the position of monarchist and revolutionary groups in the assembly. However, this concept existed before this event and the rivalry between these political groups. Right and Left are presented as symbols of good and evil in many religions and in religious scriptures. In this context, those on the right-side of God are blessed and those on the left-side are despised and scorned. This split was a source of inspiration for many works of art. The impact of this concept is depicted in paintings and carved stonework as an artistic representation of this cleavage. In this paper, we study and compare the impact of Right and Left in Western and Persian classic paintings as well as carved stonework on façades. Thus we analyze what the artists, in two cases, draw to symbolize Right and Left and how they use artistic processes to show this split.