The Masjid al-Sharif at Mecca 1793 - 1794

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this intriguing depiction of "The Masjid al-Sharif at Mecca" by Ali of Edirne. Editor: My first thought is how this plan-like view emphasizes the site's function and structure over any attempt at realistic perspective. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the labor invested in creating this bird's-eye view. The artist meticulously rendered architectural features, which also indicates that such drawings would be a tool used by artisans and pilgrims, reproduced and consumed. Editor: And each building and detail carries so much symbolic weight, doesn't it? The Kaaba at the center, the repetition of domes, each reinforces a sense of sacred space. Curator: Indeed. The use of ink and opaque watercolor on paper suggests a deliberate process, with potentially many steps involved in production and even reproduction. Editor: It's fascinating to see how Ali of Edirne distilled the essence of such an important place into symbolic form. Curator: Agreed, recognizing how such representations circulate as both devotional objects and commodities reveals a rich understanding of its cultural value.