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A lion, a deer, a hero, a dragon, a phoenix, and a cheeky monkey or two — can you spot these characters in the Museum’s Dr. Filiz Çakır Phillip’s latest Curator’s Pick for the #MuseumWithoutWalls? The drawing, depicting a lively scene in a dense, wildlife-filled forest, was created in Iran in the early 15th century. It tells a tale that harkens back to the oral traditions of the Turkic tribes of the Central Asian steppes, which enriched the artistic repertoire of generations of artists.

Like many of the objects in the Museum’s Collection, Dr. Çakır Phillip’s pick is a beautiful testament to rich, centuries-long dialogues between oral and visual traditions, conversations that have produced many of the most cherished artworks, musical compositions, styles of dance, and works of literature ever created.