"Enthronement of a Young Prince (Shapur II?)", Folio from a Yusuf and Zulaikha of Jami 1550 - 1599

Editor: So, this is an artwork of a different kind: "Enthronement of a Young Prince", dating from around 1550 to 1599, created from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaikha by Jami. What I see immediately is intricate detail, but there’s almost a flattened perspective – figures upon figures. What leaps out at you when you look at this? Curator: The layers you see are like echoes, aren't they? Time folding in on itself. Imagine the artist, working by candlelight, each brushstroke a prayer. To me, this isn't just an illustration; it's a whisper from a world obsessed with beauty. Do you sense the power dynamic at play? Look how everyone is arranged in relation to the enthroned figure. Editor: I do. It's very carefully composed. What about the lack of, let's say, naturalism? The figures feel very stylized. Curator: Exactly! It’s less about capturing reality and more about expressing an ideal. Islamic art often favors symbolic representation over strict realism. Think of it as poetry in visual form. It's aiming for a higher truth. Is it speaking to you of that truth? Editor: It is now! I guess I initially saw it as 'flat', but the layering does invite you into a deeper reading, beyond surface appearances. Curator: Yes. It's a reminder that art can transport us. Editor: I think I have a new appreciation for these types of painting. I see much more now than when I first looked at it. Thanks!