artist has weighed and

considered what it is doing； or before paying attention to the ears of the

shah’s daughter； will always be a flaw。 Precisely because it is a flaw； or

imperfection；　it　will　vary　from　miniaturist　to　miniaturist。　That　is；　it　amounts

to　a　signature。”

There　was　a　motion。　The　mander’s　men　were　bringing　into　the　old

workshop　the　pages　they’d　collected　from　the　homes　of　the　miniaturists　and

the　calligraphers。

276

“Besides；　ears　are　actually　a　human　flaw；”　I　said；　hoping　Black　would　smile。

“They’re　at　once　distinct　and　mon　to　everyone：　a　perfect　manifestation　of

ugliness。”

“What　happened　to　the　miniaturist　who’d　been　caught　by　the　authorities

through　his　style　of　painting　ears？”

I refrained from saying； “He was blinded；” to keep Black from being

even　more　downcast。　Instead；　I　responded；　“He　married　the　shah’s　daughter；

and this method； which has been used to identify miniaturists ever since； is

known by many khans； shahs and sultans who fund book…arts workshops as

the　”courtesan　method。“　Furthermore；　it　is　kept　secret　so　that　if　one　of　their

miniaturists makes a forbidden figure or a small design that conceals some

mischief　and　later　denies　having　done　so；　they　can　quickly　determine　who　was

responsible—genuine artists have an instinctive desire to draw what’s

forbidden！ Sometimes their hands make mischief on their own。 Uncovering

these transgressions involves finding trivial； quickly drawn and repetitive

details removed from the heart of the painting； such as ears； hands；