Folio from a manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with margin illustrations of dragons in foliage (recto), and birds and animals (verso) 1525 - 1530

Curator: This folio from a manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz, with illustrations attributed to Sultan Muhammad, really speaks to the intersection of text and image in Persian art. What strikes you most about it? Editor: I'm fascinated by the fantastical creatures woven into the foliage. It feels like a hidden world surrounding the text. What could these dragons and animals represent? Curator: Consider the context. Poetry, especially Sufi poetry like Hafiz's, was often used as a veiled critique of power. These mythical creatures could be allegorical representations of societal forces, perhaps commenting on the tensions between the earthly and the divine. How might the act of illustrating these poems be seen as a form of resistance or commentary? Editor: That's a powerful idea! It makes me see the artwork not just as decoration but as a space for nuanced social commentary. Curator: Exactly. It's a reminder that art can be a potent tool for expressing complex ideas, often hidden in plain sight.