Artwork
A floral fantasy of animals and birds (Waq-waq)
A floral fantasy of animals and birds (Waq-waq) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work titled “A floral fantasy of animals and birds (Waq‑waq)” presents a dense tableau of fauna entwined within a luxuriant tangle of vines and blossoms.
The work titled “A floral fantasy of animals and birds (Waq‑waq)” presents a dense tableau of fauna entwined within a luxuriant tangle of vines and blossoms. Deer, rabbits, and a spectrum of birds emerge from the foliage, while fantastical hybrids—such as a legged fish and an antlered rabbit—share the space. Gold‑patterned borders and thin red lines frame the composition, giving the scene the appearance of a decorative panel.
Subject & Meaning
The painting juxtaposes recognizable wildlife with imaginative, hybrid creatures, suggesting a realm where natural observation merges with mythic invention. By integrating ordinary animals alongside bizarre forms, the image evokes a sense of wonder and reflects a tradition of visualizing the extraordinary within the familiar.
Technique & Style
Executed in a richly colored palette, the artist employs fine brushwork to delineate the intricate foliage and the detailed anatomy of each creature. Gold leaf or pigment outlines the perimeter, while thin red strokes accentuate the border, creating a decorative frame that reinforces the work’s ornamental quality.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed for public viewing. No further details about its creation date, artist, or earlier ownership are provided in the source material.
Context
The composition reflects a broader artistic interest in combining naturalistic observation with fantastical elements, a motif that appears in various cultural traditions where the line between the real and the imagined is deliberately blurred.
Artist & collection
Akbar supervising the capture of wild elephants at Malwa in 1564, painting 90 from an Akbar-nama (Book of Akbar) of Abu’l Fazl (Indian 1551–1602)
Princes hunting in a rocky landscape
Encampment in the Mountains
Page from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Persian Calligraphy framed by an ornamental border of flowers, birds, and deer
The Attractions of Music