The stage of artistic perfection of Azerbaijani fine arts began World War II in the 1950s. The holding of exhibitions played a particular role in this development.
The wide and multicoloured panorama of the republic was portrayed on the tableaus by M.Abdullayev, the full member of the USSR Academy of Arts. Lyrical scenes of workmen and housing were given in "The Evening", "The Mingachevir Lights", "In the Steppes of Azerbaijan", "A Joy" and other works by the painter. M.Abdullayev was awarded the International Nehru Prize in 1970. His creative activity was appreciated with the orders of Glory (1997) and Independence.
The heroic enthusiasm and romanticism of that time, the greatness of artificial islands in the Caspian sea are reflected in the tableaus "Workers Come Back From Duty", "The Morning Train", "Absheron Women", "A New Sea" by popular painter T.Salahov, the full-right member of the USSR Academy of Arts. "Composer Gara Garayev's Portrait", created by T.Salahov, is one of the classical examples of the portrait art.
His tableaus, landscapes and still lives, devoted to the life of foreign states and "Composer Shostakovich's portrait " are the best works of the modern Azerbaijani painting. The painter also created the portrait of our national leader Heydar Aliyev. T.Salahov was awarded Independence order for services in the development of Azerbaijan fine art.
Contemporaries' characters and nature of native land are pictured with colourful decorative paints in works by T.Narimanbekov, owning original creation. Optimism is typical for "Happiness", "Joy", "Abundance of the land", "Market" and other his tableaus, still lives and landscapes. His improvisation ability is well seen in tableaus and decors like "When we remember Paris", "Beethoven's world". T.Narimanbayov's creation, based on the synthesis of national and international traditions, is world-famous. "Paddy sowers", "Setting on the mountains" by N.Abdurrahmanov, "Thinking of tomorrow", "Life", "My Azerbaijan", portraits of poet Aliaga Vahid, composer A.Malikov by A.Jafarov draw attention with colour richness.
Portraits of working people, culture and fine art workers (singer Z.Khanlarova, film director. Sh.Badalbayli), landscapes and still lives pictured in B.Mirzazade's creation. Subjects like labour, industry, reflected on the tableaus of B.Aliyev, L.Feyzullayev, A.Mammadov, A.Verdiyev Working people and housing scenes predominate in the creation of Kh. Safarova, H.Mammadov, G.Seyfullayev, Abdulkhalig, A.Abdullayev, H.Hagverdiyev, D.Kazimov, C.Rustamov, K.Khanlarov, T.Shikhaliyev, A.Mehdiyev, M.Abbasov, F.Aghayev, S.Manafova and others while nation's historical past, traditions, war and peace subjects prevail in the works by E.Rzaguliyev, V.Narimanbayov, T.Sadigzade, A.Husenyov, K.Nadjafzade and others. S.Salamzade, T.Taghiyev, V.Samadova, Sh.Sharifzade, O.Sadigzade, Nadjafgulu, A.Karimov, G.Mustafayeva, O.Aghababayev, H.Zeynalov, H.Karimov, S.Mammadov, Ch.Farzaliyev and others particularly distinguished in the portrait genre.
Beauties of Azerbaijan nature reflected on tableaus "Way leading to dog-violet", "Native plains", "Longing for land", "Tears of Kapaz" etc. by popular painter S.Bahlulzade. N.Gasimov, K.Khanlarov, M.Taghiyev, S.Hagverdiyev, T.Javadov, F.Khalilov, B.Maratli,
N.Rzayev, A.Asgarov, U.Hagverdiyev and other painters created original tableaus in the landscape genre.
Tableaus by F.Khalilov, devoted to Absheron nature, distinguished in respect to perceiving of life beauty, philosophical meaning.
Mythological notion presents synthesis with up-to-date painting research in works by J.Mirdjavadov, N.Rahmanov, K.Ahmadov, G.Yunusov, S.Veysov, A.Ibrahimov, I.Mammadov, S.Mirzazade, F.Hashimov, F.Gulamov, A.Samadov and others.
Development of theatre-decoration art is related to a scenic embodiment of Azerbaijan operas, ballets, drams and musical comedies. Cloth sketches, made by A.Azimzade for some theatre spectacles, artistic design, made by R.Mustafayev for drams, operas and ballets like "Diseases" in 1920-30-s (J.Mammadguluzade), "Rebellion" (D.Furmanov), "Blacksmith Gava" (Sh.Sami), "Sevil", "Bride of fire", "In 1905" (J.Jabbarli), "Sheyx Sanan" (H.Javid), "Collapsing hearth" (A.Hagverdiyev), "Shah Ismayil" (M.Magomayev), "Arsin mal alan", "Leyli and Madjnun", "Koroghlu" (U.Hadjibayov), "Ashug Garib" (Z.Hadjibayov), "Swan Lake" (P.Chaykovski) etc. occupy important place in the development of Azerbaijan theatre-decoration art. Artistic design of operas "Leyli and Mecnun" (U.Hadjibayov), "Sevil" by I.Seyidova (F.Amirov), "Koroghlu" (U.Hadjibayov), "Human fate" (I.I.Dzerjinski), "Bahadur and Sona" (S.Alasgarov), ballets "Gulshan" (S.Hadjibayov), "Nigella" (A.Abbasov) by A.Almaszade , N.Fatullayev "The city of the East" (A.Mammadkhanli), "Otello" (V.Shakespeare), "Vaqif" (S.Vurghun), "Song left on mountains" (I.Afandiyev) by A.Fataliyev, "Faded flowers" (J.Jabbarli), "Sheykh Sanan" (H.Javid) by I.Akhundov "Javanshir" (M.Huseyn), "Peasant's daughter" (M.Ibrahimov) by S.Sharifzade and other drams draw attention.
The tendency toward novelty strengthened in scenic design, painters attached significance importance to sharpness, laconism and symbolical picture means since the 1960s. The first success in this sphere belonged to T.Salahov in plays "Antonio and Cleopatra", "Hamlet" (V.Shakespeare), "Aydin" (J.Jabbarli), particularly in opera "Koroghlu" (with A.Fataliyev). M.Abdullayev made the scenic design of operas "Leyli and Madjnun", "Koroghlu" (U.Hadjibayov) and ballet "Chitra" (Niyazi) with bright and multi-coloured. "Gobustan shadows" (F.Garayev), "Seven beauties " (G.Garayev), "Nasimi epos", "1001 nights" (F.Amirov) are distinguished with romantic style design, made by T.Narimanbayov. B. Afghanli, H.Mustafayev, S.M.Fefimenko, Y.A.Toropov, A.Abbasov, E.Aslanov, B.Afandiyev, M.Aliyev, A.Seyidov, E.Mammadov, S.Hagverdiyeva, F.Ahmadov, G.Mammadov, F.A.Khalilov, F.Gafarov and other painters took important part in the theatre-decoration art, while J.Azimov, K.Nadjafzade, N.Zeynalov, F.Bagirov, R.Ismayilov, M.Aghabayov, N.Baykishiyev and others had great services in film art.
The new development stage of monumental and easel sculpture began in Azerbaijan after the Second World War. Monuments of N.Gandjavi in Ganja (1946; the USSR State Prize, 1947) and in Baku (1949) were an important stage in the creation of F.Abdurrahmanov, the associated member of the USSR Academy of Arts. His monuments in Baku, as "Freewoman" (1960), S.Vurghun (1961), Soviet Union Hero Mehdi Huseynzade (1973), in Dushanbe poet Rudaki (1964, the USSR Academy of Arts Golden Prize) are the most successful examples of Azerbaijan monumental sculpture. Master of monumental sculpture P.V.Sabsay, full member of the USSR Academy of Arts, create a gallery of working people, science and culture workers ("Oil industry worker M.P.Kaverochkin", "Painter S.Bahlulzade", "Oil industry worker Babayev", "Writer S.Rahimov", S.Vurghun's portrait for his flat-museum). "A.S.Pushkin's portrait" ("Elegiya") is one of his perfect works.
J.Garyaghdi's monumental decorative sculpture works to draw attention with artistic expressiveness and dynamism. Statues of M.A.Sabir (1958), N.Narimanov (1972), a monument of twice the Soviet Union Hero general H.Aslanov (1983, Lankaran) are valuable examples of Azerbaijan sculpture.
Joint monument "Fuzuli" (1962, Baku), created by a full member of the USSR Academy of Arts O.Eldarov and associated member of The USSR Academy of Arts T.Mammadov, is one of the perfect, plastic art examples. T.Mammadov's monuments U.Hadjibayov (1962), M.Azizbayov (1977), Nasimi (1979; with I.Zeynalovla ) are the best patterns of Azerbaijan sculpture.
O.Eldarov got synthesis of sculpture and architecture in the monuments "Kh.Natavan" (1960), "M.Magomayev" (1987), H.B.Zardabi (1973; Zardab), "to 77th Azerbaijan division" (1975, Sapun-Qora, Sevastopol) and "H.Cavid" (1993, Baku). Laconism and national colour are typical for his compositions and portraits as "Oil industry workers" (1963), "S.Bahlulzade's portrait" (1966), "Four seasons of life" (1974).
The bust of Azerbaijan people's national leader Heydar Aliyev in Nakhichevan, marmoreal composition "Ellegiya" (1997), perpetuating the memory of well-known oculist Zarifa Aliyeva, a monument set to Turkish scientist I.Doghramadj in Bilkand (2002) are some of his new successes. O. Eldarov was awarded with Independence order (1997) and To The Worthy medal of the Russia Federation (2002) for services in the development of Azerbaijan sculpture.
Famous philanthropist Hadji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev's bust (in his flat, monument of well-known statesman and poet Shah Ismayil (Baku-1993) are some of the estimable works of sculptor I.Zeynalov. F.Nadjafov ("Maternity", "Oldest doctor"), monumental sculptor F.Salayev ("S.Yesenin"), A.Asgarov ("Academic Y.Mammadaliyev"), N.Aliyev ("A.Vahid") who display interest in modern forms demonstrated plastic form variety of sculpture.
M.Mirgasimov's monuments like J.Mammadguluzade (1974; Nakhichevan), J.Jabbarli (1982; Baku) and "Ukhuru" ("Freedom"), "Oil industry worker", "Khazri" are some of the achievements of Azerbaijan sculpture. Azerbaijan sculptors made an outstanding contribution to national sculpture with successful memorial composition Honorary alley in Baku, where well known public and culture workers were buried.
Setting monuments to genius Nizami in Dashkand and St.Petersburg (2002), "Dada Gorgud" in Brussels (2004) are some of the new successes. Talented woman sculptors H.Abdullayeva, E.Huseynova, M.Rzayeva, Z. Aliverdiyeva praised youth, beauty and maternity in their works. Novelty, national traditions reflected on the monumental works by E.Shamilov, G.Sudjaddinov, A.Mustafayev, F.Salayev, A.Salikov. F.Nadjafov, F.Bakikhanov, A.Gaziyev, M.Rustamov, K.Alakbarov, A.Mirzayev, M.Salahov, A.Rustamov, H.Musayev, V.Sharifov, G.Babayev, Sh.Sharifov, T. and E.Zeynalov brothers, A.Asgarov, Kh.Ahmadov, Z. Isgandarov, H.Hagverdiyev, S.Zakiri, N.Zeynalov and others attach particular importance to novelty, emotionality of plastic form in monumental decorative works and portraits.
Subject, genre, artistic style researches take a deciding role in the development of Azerbaijan graphic art. Works series were created in the easel graphic. Linoleum engraving and painting series "In our Caspian sea" (1953-60), "Sumqayit-Rustavi" (1962), "My sisters" (1965-82) by M.Rahmanzade, devoted to labour and housing subjects differ with national peculiarity. These features are typical also for illustrations, painted by the painter to Nizami, Fuzuli, Heyran khanim, M.S.Ordubadi, A.Jafarzade and others. Linoleum engraving series "Old Baku", "Carpet-makers" by A.Rzaguliyev, "Gobustan", "Henna" by R.Babayev distinguished with real scenes of popular housing, expressive perfectness.
Y. Huseynov's book design particularly influences on easel graphic and painting. His coloured linoleum paintings "In the expanse of the Caspian sea", works "Henna", "Land of flames", "Caspian fishermen" are some of the successes of Azerbaijan graphic art.
Linoleum paintings, illustrations, etching and picture series of A.Hadjiyev, R.Mehdiyev, A.A.Mammadov, E.Aslanov, C.Mufidzade, N.Babayev, B.Hadjiyeva and others distinguish with character contemporaneity. Original picture and composition harmony, individual style are typical for creation of representatives of middle age generation such as A.Huseynov, A.Rustamov, A.Alasgarov, A.Salimov, R.Huseynov.
G.Khaligov, I.Akhundov, K.Kazimzade, A.Hadjiyev and others painted interesting illustrations to classic Azerbaijan literature and folk patterns, particularly works by Nizami and Khagani, M.Abdullayev "Kitabi-Dada Gorgud" boys (parts), the poem "Leyli and Madjnun" by Fuzuli, "Shamo" by S.Rahimov.
Development of modern satiric graphic is mainly related with magazine "Kirpi" (1952) (Nadjafgulu, G.Khaligov, I.Akhundov, K.Kazimzade, S.Sharifzade, H.Hagverdiyev and others).
Caricatures by Z.Karimbayli, A.Guliyev, R.Gadimov, A.Zeynalov and other painters occupy significance place in the development of the satiric genre.
A new stage began in the development of national culture, as well as fine art in the independence conditions of the Azerbaijan Republic in the 1990s. State care for fine art development strengthened, creation process obtained wide scope. Some impellent factors of culture workers' level raising and artistic researches activating are the presentation of honorary titles, Independence and Glory orders, presidential pension, Sultan Mahammad and Humay prizes.
Artistic perfection stage of Azerbaijan fine art started, its achievements became famous beyond the bounds of the country as well.