Two Seated Men (drawing attributed to Bihzad), with Verses about the Inconstancy of Prophetic Vision by Sa'di (calligraphy, verso); Temptation with Wine (painting, recto); folio from an album  c. 1480 - 1490

Editor: This is a folio from an album with "Two Seated Men," a drawing attributed to Bihzad. I'm struck by how the figures are framed by the calligraphy and the overall feeling of introspection. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: The script, the very strokes, carry the weight of Sa'di's verses on prophetic vision. Notice how the central image, a simple drawing of two men, is almost overwhelmed by the decorative and textual elements. Do you see a tension there, between the visual and the symbolic? Editor: I do! It feels like the text is trying to contain or interpret the image. Curator: Precisely. The drawing becomes a vessel, charged with meaning by the surrounding words. It's a reminder that images are never neutral; they always carry the echoes of culture and belief. Editor: That tension makes me see the artwork in a new light, revealing layers of meaning. Curator: Indeed, the power of symbols lies in their ability to evoke complex emotions and ideas across time.