Illustration til Adam Olearius, “Persianischer Rosenthal von einem Sinnreichen Poeten Schich Saadi […]”, Schleswig 1660 1660

J. Muller created this illustration for Adam Olearius’s German translation of “The Rose Garden” by the 13th-century Persian poet Saadi, in Schleswig in 1660. The image illustrates a scene from the book and gives us a sense of how Europeans in the 17th century understood the culture of Persia. The architecture is a blend of European and Middle Eastern styles. You'll notice children playing, watched over by an authority figure wearing a turban, perhaps a commentary on the different expectations of childhood in different cultures. It is important to remember that this image, like any other work of art, is the product of a specific social and institutional context. It reflects the worldview of the artist, the patron, and the intended audience, and it is shaped by the cultural and political forces of its time. Studying such images helps us to understand the complex relationship between art and society, and the ways in which visual culture can both reflect and shape our understanding of the world. We can study historical texts and other images from the period to get a better sense of this artwork.