North India
20th Century
The allure of the sun, the mystifying phases of the moon and the positions of the stars has enthralled cultures since the beginning of time. The phases of the moon was a phenomenon that was addressed by the Iranian scholar Al-Biruni in his 11th century manuscript titled ‘Kitab al-Tafhim’. Al-Beruni writes, “Why – why the increase and decrease of the light of the moon is settled while other stars don't behave so?” The composition for the current painting is clearly inspired by a version of the manuscript of Al-Biruni, the diagram is strikingly similar to a composition contained within a copy of the manuscript presently housed at the Library, Museum and Document Centre of Iran Parliament, Tehran. The sun, marked as a yellow sphere, beams its light on the moon, orbiting in a circular motion, causing it to appear in varying shapes. Two separate heavenly bodies also appear on either side, reflecting the light of the sun in different directions.