"Hare", Folio from the Mantiq al-wahsh (Speech of the Wild Animal) of Ka'b al-Ahbar 11th - 12th century

This 11th-12th century drawing of a hare is a folio from the "Mantiq al-wahsh" (Speech of the Wild Animal) by Ka'b al-Ahbar, a collection of Arabic animal fables. This work, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a hare in profile, rendered in brown ink on parchment. The minimalist style of the drawing is characteristic of Islamic manuscript illustrations of this period. The illustration serves as a visual complement to the written text, bringing the fable to life for the reader.