Arabic Calligraphy
Mashael Almadi
Outline
 General Information
 History of Arabic Calligraphy
•
How writing became art and why?
 Different Types of Scripts
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Development
Characteristics
Usage
 Contemporary Calligraphy and
Arabic Typography
General Information
•
Two forms of art used in Islam: calligraphy and patterns such
as geometrical and floral designs.
•
Calligraphy was originally a means of communication;
however, overtime it has developed into art.
•
Calligraphy is not used in everyday writing (newspapers, TV)
because of practicality.
History
Early
Development
Abbasid
Dynasty
• Arabic
• Thuluth
Musnad
Script
Al-Jazm
• Naksh
• Kufic Script
Script
Safavid
Dynasty
Ottomon
Dynasty
• Ta’liq
• Diwani
Script
Script
• Nasta’liq • Riq’a
Script
Script
 The Maghribi (North Africa):
Type of Kufic Script.
http://calligraphyqalam.com/styles/timeline.html
Types of
Script
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaHkMei
HknE
Arabic Musnad
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•
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First Arabic script.
Very basic shapes.
Does not really look like modern day script.
Discovered in south of Arabian Peninsula.
Arabic Musnad alphabet as sketched by
Ibn al-Nadim (d 990 CE) in his book alFihrast written around 970 CE.
Al-Jazm
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•
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Used by northern tribes.
Linked to Nabatean, Syriac and Persian scripts?
Developed and used before and during the early
Islamic era.
Different styles (Hiri, Anbari, Madan and Makki)
Kufic Script
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•
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Oldest script.
Used until 13th century.
Identifiable Letters.
First documentation of the Quran.
Early stages did not :
1) Dots.
2) Tashkeel.
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Different versions of Kufic.
Characteristics: angular letters, horizontal
format, thick extended strokes.
Uses: architectural decoration of buildings
including palaces and mosques.
Thuluth and Naskh
Script
• Ibn Muqla’s
proportional writing
system and the six
scripts.
• Letters based on four
rules:
Rhombic dot, Alif, Circle,
Similarity System.
• Kufic with more
cursive and round
shapes.
Thuluth Script
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Developed in 11th century.
Basis of scripts that appear later.
Easy to read and has a clear structure.
Characteristics: cursive letters and long
lines.
• Uses: Quran, architecture, metalwork,
ceramics and manuscripts.
Naskh Script
• Developed during
the same period as
Thuluth.
• Easy to read.
• Characteristics: full
deep curves, words
well spaced.
• Uses: long
manuscripts,
ceramics, tiles and
books.
Savafid Dynasty (Persian Calligraphy)
Ta’liq Script
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Developed (11th century) and Refined (13th Century) in
Persia.
Still Used today.
Characteristics: words appear hung together and
connected, rounded letters with a lot of curves, requires a
lot of space to write.
Nasta’liq Script
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Redefined version of Ta’liq (15th century).
Characteristics: merges Ta’liq and Naskh scripts
Uses: poetry (manuscripts or objects), carpets, textiles.
The scripts can be seen on Persian art and architecture.
Ta’liq
Nasta’liq
Diwani Script
• Developed in 16th century, Reached final
shape in 19th century.
• Still used today.
• Characteristics: curved letters, merged
together to form complex shapes and
decorative forms.
Riq’a:
• More recent script,
developed in the 18th
century.
• Still used today.
• Characteristics:
simple form, short
strokes, letters more
straight than round.
• Uses: letters, edicts,
manuscripts
Contemporary Calligraphy and
Writing Styles
• Arabic Typography
• Individualistic Calligrapher Styles
• Writing in Arabic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJCm
JKpWph0
Modern Arabic
Typography
https://malkamukarkar25.wordpress.com/arabic-typographypictures/
http://ragheb-abuhamdan.deviantart.com/art/The-Horse-ArabicTypography-419011278
Sources
• http://arabetics.com/public/html/more/History%20of
%20the%20Arabic%20Script_article.htm
• http://calligraphyqalam.com/resources/furtherreading.html
• http://www.metmuseum.org/learn/foreducators/publications-foreducators/~/media/Files/Learn/For%20Educators/Publi
cations%20for%20Educators/Islamic%20Teacher%20Re
source/Unit2.pdf
• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/03/takinga-closer-look-at-arabic-calligraphy/
• http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/introductionislamic-art
• http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/calligraphyin-islamic-art/