"Pair of Serpents", Folio from a Manafi' al-Hayawan (On the Usefulness of Animals) of Ibn Bakhtishu' 1272 - 1324

This is a page from Ibn Bakhtishu’s “Manafi' al-Hayawan (On the Usefulness of Animals),” made during the medieval period when there was a flourishing of intellectual activity in the Islamic world. Here, the artist depicts a pair of intertwining serpents, rendered with striking detail against a backdrop of text. This juxtaposition of image and text invites us to consider the complex relationship between art and knowledge. The representation of animals in medieval Islamic art often carried symbolic meanings, reflecting beliefs about the natural world. Serpents could represent healing, or serve as omens and symbols of protection. How does the artist play with these established representations? Consider too, how the act of depicting these animals, of trying to understand their usefulness, speaks to a broader human desire to categorize, control, and make sense of the world around us. What do you feel when you look at them?