asian antiquity

Islamic Calligraphy

 

Already in the early days of the Islam the written word was gradually transformed into a highly refined art and thus one of the most prolific book cultures in the world. The idea of ​​a systematic alphabet came up in Syria in the 14th century B.C. and finally led to the earliest forms of Arabic calligraphy. Initially, it was the angular geometric kufi style popular in the first half of the 7th century A.D., followed by the italic style of the thuluth script. Until the 13th century, when the Arabic script reached its full maturity, many different styles, variations and writing schools were established and used by Qur’an copyists and scholars depending on their personal and regional preference. The art of calligraphy later reached further diversity, regarding, for instance, the blank spaces between the letters that were now decorated with floral and figural ornaments. In this regard, the Ottomans developed a wealth of different forms, such as depictions of animals or humans formed from single words or whole sentences. The persistence of the Arabic script is therefore obviously based on its adaptability and lively character, which still underlies a continuing process of renewal. (cbo)