"Yusuf before the Ladies of Cairo", Folio from Yusuf and Zulaykha

Art Historical Context

Step into the luminous world of 16th-century Islamic manuscript art with this exquisite folio, *Yusuf before the Ladies of Cairo*, the renowned romance *Yusuf and Zulaykha*. Created by an unknown artist in the second half of the16th century, it captures a pivotal moment from the Persian poem by Jami, inspired by Quranic tales of the prophet Yusuf (Joseph). Here, the strikingly handsome Yusuf is presented before the ladies of Cairo, who, entranced by his beauty while he cuts fruit, accidentally injure themselves—a vivid illustration of divine allure and human frailty. Rendered in ink, opaque w...