Duck in Foliage

The slightly tinted ink drawing on this album folio depicts a duck next to a flower branch. One of the branches goes above the duck's head and the other through its wings. The head and shoulders are drawn with a thick stroke. This type of tinted ink drawings represents the saz style which is generally distinguished by three-dimensional serrated leaves, intertwining branches and mythical or real creatures. The style was developed at the Ottoman imperial studio in the first half of the 16th century under the leadership of the émigré Persian artist Shahquli. The saz style permeated diverse media including ceramics, paintings, and textiles and found popularity throughout the 16th century in the Ottoman realm.