Unknown Artist
This drawing, executed in black ink on tan paper, depicts stylized serrated leaves intertwined with a dragon. The central composition is framed by a pale marbled border, followed by a wider outer band decorated in gold and black with scrolling vines, blossoms, leaves, and small birds. Two seal impressions appear on the sheet: one beneath the drawing, possibly reading “ʿAbd Muhammad Sadiq,” and another on the outer border that is too worn to decipher but resembles a tughra-style emblem (tughra is the highly stylized calligraphic emblem used as the official signature of Ottoman sultans).
The work is a refined example of the saz style, a decorative mode that flourished in the Ottoman world during the second half of the 16th century. Characterized by sweeping, serrated leaves and dynamic compositions, saz designs appeared across many artistic media.
P.S. Dragons were a theme popular in art across many different regions and cultures. Discover the varied depictions and meanings of dragons in East Asian art!