The Fox's Fear (painting, recto; text, verso), folio 314 from a manuscript of the Divan (Collection of Works) of Anvari 1588

Curator: This miniature painting on a folio, attributed to Miskin, is titled "The Fox's Fear" and comes from a manuscript of the Divan of Anvari. Editor: The scene has a certain intensity, with the huntsman brandishing his sword and those hounds flying across the landscape! You can almost hear the thunder of hooves and the baying of the dogs. Curator: Indeed. The composition uses dynamic diagonals to convey movement and urgency, traditional elements in Persianate painting meant to evoke emotional depth. What do you think the fox represents? Editor: Maybe it’s a symbol of cunning, perhaps even a warning about the deceptive nature of appearances. It’s a dance between predator and prey—a metaphor for life's constant challenges. Curator: Perhaps. The imagery here certainly speaks to larger allegorical themes of power, vulnerability, and the human condition. Editor: A tiny painting, but it speaks volumes. Definitely sparks something inside, doesn’t it?