A Loaf of Bread, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam 

Edmund Dulac created this illustration for "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam", using watercolor and ink, and the scene unfolds with an air of serene contemplation. The composition is structured around the figures of a man and a woman, intertwined with the natural world. The palette is rich in earth tones, accented by the cool blues of the twilight sky. Dulac’s use of line is delicate, creating intricate patterns in the fabrics and foliage, which suggests an interest in detail and ornamentation. The texture of the piece, achieved through fine brushwork, gives the image a tactile quality, drawing the viewer into the tranquil scene. The crescent moon and the figures’ contemplative postures evoke themes of time, mortality, and the search for meaning. This interplay between form and content invites a reflection on the transient nature of life, resonating with the philosophical underpinnings of Khayyam’s verses.