"Bahram Gur Exhibiting his Prowess in Wrestling at the Court of Shangul, King of India", Folio from the First Small Shahnama (Book of Kings) 1275 - 1355

This early 14th-century painting on paper, by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, depicts a wrestling match at court. Notice how the composition is neatly divided with text above and below the painting, framing the central image. In the painting, figures are arranged in a frieze-like manner against a gold backdrop, creating a sense of depthless space. The wrestlers are locked in combat at the center, their bodies forming a complex knot of limbs and torsos, counterbalanced by the static poses of the seated and standing observers who are placed asymmetrically around the wrestlers. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted tones of ochre, green, and brown. This emphasizes the human forms and dramatic tension of the wrestling match. The painting's structure and stylized figuration reflect a blend of Persian artistic traditions and the broader cultural narratives of the Shahnama, emphasizing themes of heroism, courtly life, and moral instruction. Its formal qualities underscore the painting's function as both an aesthetic object and a vehicle for cultural and philosophical discourse.