Page from the Manafi al-Hayavan c. 14th century

This painted page from the Manafi al-Hayavan depicts two deer amidst stylized flora and cloud forms. The anonymous artist, working in ink and opaque watercolor, has created a symmetrical composition that balances text and image. The page's structure is divided horizontally, with a calligraphic text block above an illustration of two deer, one with impressive antlers. The deer are rendered with delicate, flowing lines and a subtle palette of browns and greens. Note the cloud motifs which seem to float in the pictorial space. This arrangement invites a semiotic reading: the text, functioning as a symbolic system, anchors the image, and the stylized flora and fauna serve as signs of the natural world, mediated through cultural and artistic conventions. Together, text and image construct a layered narrative, where visual and linguistic elements intertwine. The interplay between the detailed rendering of the natural elements and the symbolic use of script challenges the viewer to negotiate between observation and interpretation.