The emaciated lover Majnun meets his beloved Layla, from a manuscript of the Khamsa ("Quintet") of Nizami (1141-1217)

The tragic story of Layla and Majnun, derived from an Arab folktale, was one of the most popular romances in the Islamic world. In this painting, which illustrates a scene toward the end of the story, the lovers meet after a long separation. The frail Majnun, who was driven by his love for Layla to withdraw to the wilderness and live as an ascetic, is supported by an elderly bearded gentleman. Layla and her two attendants stand nearby. The emaciated figure of the young Majnun indicates the degree to which he has subordinated his life and well being to his all-consuming love for Layla. Such figures have many parallels in traditional Indian imagery. In both the Indian and the Persian cultural spheres, the denial of worldly pleasures was an appropriate response to separation from, or loss of, a loved one.