Jali (window screen) c. 1600 - 1620

Curator: Immediately striking. It feels… simultaneously airy and solid. The delicate lattice plays against the weight of the stone. Editor: Indeed. We are looking at a Jali, a window screen, dating back to the early 17th century, likely crafted sometime between 1600 and 1620. The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses this particular example. Curator: It breathes a certain elegance. I notice how the geometric patterns seem to reference cosmic harmony, typical in Islamic art of the era. Editor: Precisely. The intricate carvings aren't merely decorative; they play a functional role, modulating light and air while providing privacy. Jali screens served an important purpose in the architecture of palaces and mosques, particularly in hot climates. We see, beyond aesthetics, social norms shaping design. Curator: Note also the implied layers, psychological, too. The screen filters vision and, perhaps, experience. This layering affects perception, drawing you inward and simultaneously defining interior and exterior worlds. This particular carving uses a series of layered circles throughout the central panel and an elegant series of carved floral elements on top. It would have served the essential function of keeping the hot sunlight at bay, but it adds a layer of intimacy for those on either side of the screen. Editor: The unseen artisan who shaped this stone remains anonymous, yet the enduring object reflects cultural values from its period of creation. One wonders about the individual who spent untold hours on this. This embodies so many crosscurrents, speaking of climate, artistic practices, and social roles through its material being. The concept of "home" changes depending on how our doors and windows welcome us and offer that glimpse between inside and outside. Curator: It resonates, certainly. I look away considering its influence even now on interior design, that yearning to make a place personal with intricate layering of detail. Editor: Absolutely. And in terms of museums, these types of objects that represent both form and function give audiences insight to those things which we all have in common through time.