Portret van Muradbakhsh, zoon van Shah Jahan, die na Shuja is geboren en in de tijd van zijn vader regeerde over Gujarat; na de dood van zijn vader heeft Aurangzeb hem gedood en Gujarat in bezit genomen c. 1686

This is a portrait of Murad Bakhsh, son of Shah Jahan, made by an anonymous artist. Note the golden halo that surrounds his head, a symbol echoing across cultures and epochs. The halo is originally a pagan symbol, associated with divine beings in ancient Greece and Rome. In this portrait, it signifies the power and status of the Mughal ruler, echoing its use in Christian art to denote sanctity. Consider, too, the sword he carries. A symbol of power, justice, and protection, reappearing across cultures. From the Bronze Age to modern times, the sword represents the complex interplay of authority and the threat of violence. These symbols are not static. They morph over time, carrying the weight of history, memory, and emotion. It is a visceral experience engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of the cyclical progression of symbols as they resurface and evolve through time.