The artwork, titled “All are but Stories, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,” is a creation of Edmund Dulac, a distinguished artist associated with the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This illustration is part of the larger series, “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,” and exemplifies the genre of illustration.
In the artwork, a group of turbanned men is gathered in a sparsely furnished room, engaged in what appears to be an intense discourse. At the center-right, one figure stands, holding an open book and gesticulating with an authoritative presence. His expressive face suggests he is reciting or reading, likely from the text in his hand. The other men exhibit a range of reactions from animated gestures to contemplative postures, indicating their deep absorption in the subject matter. The scene is richly detailed, with the colors and textures characteristic of Dulac’s masterful command, evoking a sense of historical and cultural richness. Above the group, red flowers or leaves hang, adding a decorative element to the composition and further enhancing its visual appeal.
