Majnun in the Wilderness, folio from an album c. 20th century

Curator: This is a piece called "Majnun in the Wilderness," a folio from an album signed by Ruhani. The artwork is held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, what strikes me first is the sheer abundance of animals, all coexisting almost peacefully. It’s like a miniature, illuminated Eden. Curator: It's interesting to consider the context. Majnun, a figure from Persian and Sufi literature, is driven mad by love, and finds solace in the natural world. Notice how Ruhani depicts the landscape as both a refuge and a reflection of Majnun’s internal chaos. Editor: Right, the material reality then becomes one of self-imposed exile. The gold detailing, the lapis lazuli—these precious materials speak to the wealth and labor involved in its production, quite a contrast to Majnun's voluntary poverty. Curator: It's as if the very artifice of the painting underscores the raw, untamed emotions at its heart. Ruhani's hand seems to disappear, allowing us to enter Majnun’s world of love and loss. Editor: The detail in the animals, even the border design—it all adds up. What a commentary on devotion, both to artmaking and the pursuit of love. I’m going to need to sit with this one.