"Steinbok", Folio from a Dispersed Nuzhatnama-i ‘A’a’i of Shahmardan ibn Abi’l Khayr 1475 - 1525

This folio, featuring a "Steinbok," was created around the 12th century by Shahmardan ibn Abi’l Khayr, using ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The artist would have used brushes of varying fineness to apply thin washes of color, building up the image layer by layer. Note the animal’s grey coat, rendered with subtle gradations, and the surrounding flora, enlivened with touches of red and gold. The text above is written in Persian script, further demonstrating the artist's mastery of different media. The Steinbok itself, a mythical creature, inhabits a space between observation and imagination. While the materials are traditional, the image itself is a product of the artist's skilled hand, their imagination, and the cultural context in which they were working. This work reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the result of complex interactions between materials, making processes, and cultural meanings.