The Fisherman Unable to Hold the Giant Fish
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | Cincinnati Art Museum, USA |
| Location History: | Although the original Gulistan is preserved at the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, the single folio page is preserved outside of the main royal manuscript and is currently part of the permanent collection at the Cincinnati Art Museum in the United States, officially donated by John J. Emery in 1950. |
The Gulistan (The Rose Garden) is a collection of Persian stories and poems written in 1258 CE by the legendary poet and philosopher Sa'di Shirazi. It serves as a collection of moral tales intended for political advice, teaching rulers how to govern with mercy, justice, and accountability. During the reign of Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Dynasty (1556-1605CE), an illustrated edition of The Gulistan was commissioned, compiled by the famed scribe Muhammad Husayn al-Kashmiri and painter Manohar Das. "The Fisherman Unable to Hold the Giant Fish" is one of the paintings from the many short episodes of The Gulistan issued by Akbar. It visually captures Tale 24 from Chapter 3 ("The Excellency of Contentment"), where a weak fisherman manages to trap a massive, powerful fish in his net. However, the giant fish breaks free, dragging the net right out of his hands and swimming away into the river. When the other fishermen mock for losing such an incredible catch, the fisherman calmly delivers the story's core moral lesson on fate, destiny, and contentment. The painting depicts the exact moment the fish escapes. Hunters, horse riders, and curious bystanders are also shown to be gathering to witness the drama. Lines of beautiful Persian prose are written across the landscape layout, mirroring the rhythm of Sa'di's original writing.
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