Qubad Discusses Death before Fighting Barman 

This painting, "Qubad Discusses Death before Fighting Barman", was created by Reza Abbasi around the turn of the 17th century. It's executed with ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, materials painstakingly applied. Consider the surface, which has a pronounced texture. The artist would have prepared the paper meticulously, burnishing it to a smooth finish, before beginning to paint with the finest of brushes. The metallic pigments, laboriously ground and mixed with binders, give a luminous quality, catching the light and adding a sense of richness. The human figures, plants, and animals are carefully delineated. The social context of this piece is crucial. Abbasi worked in the sophisticated milieu of the Safavid court. This was a culture of connoisseurship, where the skills of calligraphy and painting were highly prized. The painting embodies a whole world of aesthetic values, skill, and manual dexterity. It reminds us that the most seemingly effortless images often have complex histories of production behind them.