"Rustam's First Course: Rakhsh Kills a Lion", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) 1405 - 1465

This is "Rustam's First Course: Rakhsh Kills a Lion," a folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings), made around the 10th century by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi. The painting arrests us with its dynamic composition and striking palette of warm, earthy tones contrasted with cooler blues. The image depicts a scene of violent confrontation between a speckled orange horse and a yellow lion. The stark contrast in colour draws the eye to the centre of the image to the animal’s struggle, infusing the scene with drama. Rustam, the hero, in blue, seems to be rising up, ready to fight with a bow and arrow. The landscape is represented in a stylized manner. The artist seems to be playing with the idea of perspective and depth through flattening the pictorial space. What we see here is a deliberate manipulation of visual language. The use of flat space, bold colors, and simplified forms rejects naturalistic representation in favor of a more symbolic approach. The composition and formal structure, therefore, guide our interpretation of the narrative, emphasizing themes of heroism, conflict, and cultural identity.