Calligraphy by Mir `Ali Haravi with paintings by an unknown artist (recto and verso), folio from an Anthology of Poetry c. mid 16th century

Curator: This is a folio from an Anthology of Poetry featuring calligraphy by Mir 'Ali Haravi, who lived between 1525 and 1575, with paintings by an unknown artist. The dimensions are quite intimate: only about 3 by 6 inches. Editor: It feels like a secret, doesn't it? All this meticulous detail packed into something so small. The gold speckling around the central panel just shimmers. Curator: Absolutely. The process of creating illuminated manuscripts like this was intensely collaborative, involving calligraphers, painters, and illuminators, each a master craftsperson. Editor: I can imagine the artisan's hands, steady and sure, coaxing such delicate lines. What a testament to the power of focused labor! Curator: Exactly! And beyond the labor is a fascinating interplay of text and image, where poetry and painting support and enhance one another. Editor: It makes you wonder about the anthology's original patron and how they experienced this miniature world of words and images. A private pleasure, indeed!