The people of Azerbaijan, one of the oldest nations in the world, are justifiably proud of their history, material and cultural monuments, rich literature, art and music culture. The beautiful nature, climate and richness of the country’s natural resources have also had a great impact on the artistic thinking and creativity of the Azerbaijani people. Despite the fact that each of the different types of art in our country has a long and complex path of development, it provides ample opportunity to create a complete picture of the art and culture of Azerbaijan by uniting together. Azerbaijani art is as colorful, full and rich as the nature of our country.

One of the most important places in the rich source of creativity of the Azerbaijani people is occupied by folk arts associated with his life and daily life. This type of art, which has lasted from ancient times to the present day, covers a large area, from folk costumes to various household products and decorations.

Naturally, the everyday features of our people, aesthetic taste, in short, the national face, the ego would be especially vivid in this type of art. It is not for nothing that in the richest museums of the world you can find many beautiful examples of Azerbaijani folk art. Looking at the rich museum collections of Victoria and Albert in London, the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan of Washington, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Istanbul, Tehran, Cairo, the art created there by skilled hands of masters from Tabriz, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Gazakh, Guba, Baku, Sheki, Shamakhi and Karabakh examples can be seen.

There is a great and rich history of our folk art, which was created due to the work of our people and is widely used in their life and everyday life. Nakhchivan, Mingachevir, Gadabay, Gazakh, Ganja and others. The age of the metal works of art is about 5,000 years. The pottery, weapons and ornaments found in these areas are not only a historical fact, but also a valuable source of information about the mastery of the artist who created it.

Material and cultural samples found during excavations in the territory of Azerbaijan show that our ancestors made delicate bronze vessels, daggers, axes, belts, etc. in the 2nd millennium BC. They made jewelry and used it in their life and household. These indicate the antiquity of arts such as coppersmithing and jewelry. Among the metal artifacts are those that we can get acquainted with the customs, religious beliefs, and even clothing of the people of that time.

The historical, ethnographic and artistic features of folk art are reflected in clothing. This feature manifests itself both in clothing of a certain shape and its decorations, as well as in artistic embroidery, weaving and knitting.

During archeological excavations in Azerbaijan, a bronze needle belonging to the beginning of the Bronze Age (third millennium BC) and we were found. These findings prove that the ancient inhabitants of Azerbaijan were able to sew clothes for themselves. Small clay sculptures found in Kultapa and Mingachevir (second millennium BC) and found in Mingachevir in BC. Fingerprints of the 5th century give an idea of ​​the clothes of that time. Remains of clothes made of various silk fabrics were found in the tombs of Mingachevir catacombs belonging to V-VI centuries AD. BC The discovery of a large number of gold ornaments and shoes made of clay from the III-IV centuries is one of the main proofs that the Azerbaijanis have had a high material culture since ancient times.

Various paintings engraved on household appliances and jewelry made of copper, bronze and gold prove the existence of fine arts in Azerbaijan in ancient times.

An image of a lion on a clay figure of a horse (second millennium BC) found in Maku, South Azerbaijan and other findings show how ancient the art of carpet weaving, a branch of folk art in Azerbaijan, is.

During archeological excavations, ruins of carpets and carpets were found in catacomb graves of I-III centuries in Mingachevir.

According to archeological materials and written sources, carpet weaving has been practiced in Azerbaijan since the Bronze Age (late 2nd millennium BC – early 1st millennium BC). Herodotus, Claudius Elian, Xenophon and other ancient world historians reported on the development of carpet weaving in Azerbaijan.

Carpets woven in different periods in different carpet schools of Azerbaijan (Guba, Baku, Shirvan, Ganja, Gazakh, Karabakh, Tabriz) still fascinate people with their beauty. Many of them are preserved in world-famous museums.

Among the oldest examples of fine art Gobustan rock paintings from the VIII-V centuries, paintings of the beginning of the Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) in the Ayichingili and Perichingil mountains around Lake Zalkha in the Kalbajar region, rock paintings in the Gamigaya mountains north of Ordubad are of exceptional importance. Of particular interest are the paintings carved on the rocks of Gobustan, depictions of the lifestyle, life and work of the ancient people who lived there. Various plots, scenes, human and animal images related to hunting, cattle breeding, agriculture and other spheres of life are engraved here in a dynamic way. Gobustan rock paintings – pictograms cover a centuries-old, long historical period from the primitive community structure to the stage of feudalism.

Azerbaijan has been rich in works of fine art since ancient times, as well as architectural works, a branch of folk art. Maiden’s Tower and Shirvanshahs Palace complex in Baku, tombs of Momina Khatin and Yusif ibn Kuseyir created by architect Ajami in Nakhchivan, Panahali khan’s palace in Shusha, Natava’s house, paintings on the wall of Sheki khans’ palace, etc. are rare pearls of architecture. Among the Gobustan rock paintings, the depiction of people playing “Yalli” (dance) is of particular interest. These images show the interest of the Azerbaijani people in music since ancient times.

The Motherland of the Azerbaijani people, which has a rich cultural heritage, is also known as the Land of Fires, as well as the land of magical music. Azerbaijani music has centuries-old traditions that enrich the treasury of world music culture with its unique pearls. The creators of folk music, who have created a great and rich heritage by living these traditions from generation to generation, have made great contributions to the development of Azerbaijani music. Folk songs, dances and ashugs have a special place in the national music of Azerbaijan. Mughams are the cornerstone of Azerbaijani national music. It is no coincidence that in 2003, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included Azerbaijani mugam in its list of cultural heritage.

From ancient times, our national music has developed together with literature. For example, mugham developed together with Eastern poetry. Thus, while performing mugam, the singers sang the ghazals of such powerful poets of the Azerbaijani people as Nizami, Khagani, Fuzuli, Nasimi. Along with the genres of national poetry, couplets, mukhammas, ustadname, gafilband, as well as its poetic forms, gerayli, divani, qoshma, tajnis are the favorite forms of ashugs. Literary works created by our classics and contemporaries have a special place in the treasury of world culture. The works created by MFAkhundov, N.Vazirov, MSOrdubadi, G.Zakir, MASabir, J.Mammadguluzade, MPVagif, MVVidadi and many other poets and writers have not lost their high artistic and aesthetic significance. One of the arts closely related to Azerbaijani literature is theatrical art. The roots of theatrical art in Azerbaijan are connected with the activities, life, festivities and wedding traditions of the people, as well as their worldview. Elements of performances in ceremonies, rituals and games played an important role in the establishment of an independent folk theater. The Azerbaijan People’s Theater had a realistic character and was connected with the working class. The repertoire of the People’s Theater consisted of small performances (Persians) with a certain ethical content. The People’s Theater has played an important role in the formation of the Azerbaijan Professional Theater.

The history of theatrical art, which has its roots in ancient times, begins with MFAkhundov’s performances “Lankaran khan’s vizier” and “Haji Gara” staged in Baku in March and April 1873.

The repertoire of the Azerbaijani theater, which has undergone a complex development, has expanded today. Various performances to the delight of the audience can be seen in the Academic National Drama Theater, Municipal Theater, Pantomime Theater, Young Spectators Theater and other theaters operating in Azerbaijan today. Cinema, which is considered to be the most interesting and popular art form of our time, has penetrated into the life of our people and has become an integral part of it. Cinema, which is new compared to other types of art, reveals to the audience the depths of the human heart and new horizons of life. Our national cinema has accumulated rich experience from year to year, and many works of various types and genres reflecting the life and problems of our people have been created. These films have been preserved for future generations and have become a spiritual treasure of our people.

Azerbaijani art is as ancient and rich as the history of our people. The study of various types of theater, cinema, music and folk art, which have a long and complicated history of development, proves that the Azerbaijani people have a high cultural heritage. Azerbaijani cultural and artistic figures have always made efforts to bring our national culture to the world, and have achieved this, at least in part. The inclusion of Azerbaijani mugam in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage of mankind, the awarding of the Oscar by the outstanding filmmaker, screenwriter and film director R.Ibrahimbeyov and, in general, the preservation of handicrafts and woven carpets in world famous museums are clear evidence of this.