"Bahram-e Chubineh Wears Women's Clothing and Spins Yarn", folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi 1455 - 1515

This folio depicting "Bahram-e Chubineh Wears Women's Clothing and Spins Yarn" comes from a Shahnama, or Book of Kings, likely created in Persia between the 14th and 16th centuries. This image, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, presents us with an insight into the cultural and social codes of gender and power of its time. By depicting a hero in women's clothing, the painting prompts us to question the conventional symbols of masculinity. This act of cross-dressing can be seen as a form of social critique, challenging the norms of gender and power within the Persian courtly society. The scene invites us to consider the politics of imagery and the potential of art to challenge the status quo. To understand this work better, one might look at studies of gender roles in Persian society, or research the patronage of the Shahnama itself, a text commissioned by rulers to reinforce their authority, but also open to creative interpretations that could subvert that authority. This reminds us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.