The Nomad Bride

Digital drawing, archival pigment inkjet print on fine art paper, Limited edition of 5, 42 x 29.7 cm, 350 USD

Malhun Hatun was the daughter of Umar Bey, leader of a nomadic Turkic clan. He had fought against the Byzantines alongside Osman Bey, another Turkic tribal leader, and invited him to celebrate their victories. Osman Bey saw Malhun that night for the first time. Her beauty was legendary—tall and fair with large eyes that shown like diamonds. What’s more, she could wield a sword and ride a horse better than any man. Many had asked for her hand in marriage, but Malhun refused every suitor—until Osman proposed that night. These two forces of nature sowed the seeds of a royal bloodline that would last for centuries and change the course of history: The Ottomans.