Shadow Puppet of a Battleship
Title: Shadow Puppet of a Battleship
Date: ca. before 18th century
Medium: Parchment and leather
Credit Line: Linden-Museum Stuttgart (INV. 084682)
Four men are looking forwards aboard a four-sailed ship, holding swords in their hands, preparing for battle at sea. The detailed scene, containing different figures decorated with intricate geometric patterns, is constructed from sewn-together parchment. This figure would not be viewed stagnantly but would serve as a kinetic piece of a larger narrative. Originating from present-day Egypt, this shadow puppet would have been used in theatre productions. In the form of shadow theater, the puppet would often be viewed from behind a thin, backlit screen, and would be moved along with dialogue and song, creating the illusion that this two-dimensional object was participating in a living story. Islamic theatre productions often took the form of shadow plays, which provided a medium for oral traditions and storytelling to be passed between people. These plays often aimed to convey morals and ethical statements that would contribute to a cultural way of thought formed through the leisure practice of theatre.