Persian calligraphy

Persian calligraphy or Iranian calligraphy (Persian: خوشنِویسیِ ایرانی) is the calligraphy of the Persian language. It is one of the most revered arts throughout the history of Iran.

History

Example showing Nastaʿlīq's proportion rules.^{[citation needed]}

History of Nasta'liq

After the introduction of Islam in the 7th century, Persians adapted the Arabic alphabet to Persian and developed the contemporary Persian alphabet. The Arabic alphabet has 28 characters. An additional four letters were added by Iranians,^[1] which resulted in the 32 letters currently present in the Persian alphabet.

Around one thousand years ago,

Perso-Arabic script

.

In the 17th century Morteza Gholi Khan Shamlou and Mohammad Shafi Heravi created a new genre called cursive Nastaʿlīq

Shekasteh Nastaʿlīq (Persian

: شکسته نستعلیق)). Almost a century later, Abdol-Majid Taleqani, who was a prominent artist at the time, brought this genre to its highest level. This calligraphic style is based on the same rules as Nas’taliq. However, cursive Nas’taliq has a few significant differences: it provides more flexible movements, and it is slightly more stretched and curved. Yadollah Kaboli is one of the most prominent contemporary calligraphers within this style.

Folio of Poetry From the Divan of Sultan Husayn Mirza, c. 1490. Brooklyn Museum.
Calligraphy of Persian poems on large
pishtaq at the Agra Fort, India

Chalipa panel,
Mir Emad
.
Calligraphic composition by Shah Mahmud Nishapuri, a 16th-century master of Nasta'liq

Contemporary Persian calligraphy

In 1950, the Iran's Association of Calligraphers was founded by Hossein Mirkhani, Ali Akbar Kaveh, Ebrahim Bouzari, Hassan Mirkhani and Mehdi Baiani. For an overview of Persian calligraphy's development within Afghanistan, see "Calligraphy during last two centuries in Afghanistan" (1964), by Azizuddin Vakili.

Modernist movement

Zendeh Roudi, Jalil Rasouli, Parviz Tanavoli, and Nima Behnoud use Persian calligraphy and Rumi poetry in dress designing.

Post modernism

Abol Atighetchi uses combination of colored naskh, suluth and kufic style calligraphy with large letters in a single large format acrylic painting for his work presentation and circles in gold leaf or simple color to decorate but in the Nastaligh style many colorful geometrical forms and lines are used to modernize the painting and the same technique is used to modernize the large format birds of bessmel (Persian: مرغ بسمل), all drawn with large letters. This style of work can be classified as post-modern.

Genres

Nasta'liq script
Shekasteh Nastaʿlīq
(Cursive Nasta'liq)
Naghashi-khat (Painting-Calligraphy combined)

Most notable figures

References

^ ^a ^b "History - Persian Calligraphy- All about Persian Calligraphy". persiancalligraphy.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-04. Retrieved 2021-03-17.

External links

Ḡolām-Ḥosayn Yūsofī, Calligraphy, Encyclopaedia Iranica, at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/calligraphy
Brief history of Persian Calligraphy
About history of Persian Calligraphy and its different styles
Anthology of Iranian Masters of Calligraphy

[:0-1] "History - Persian Calligraphy- All about Persian Calligraphy". persiancalligraphy.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-04. Retrieved 2021-03-17.

[1]

v t e UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Iran
Inscribed in 2009	The Radif of Iranian music Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz
Inscribed in 2010	Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Fars The ritual dramatic art of Ta‘zīye Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals The music of the Bakhshis of Khorasan
Inscribed in 2011	Traditional skills of building and sailing Iranian Lenj boats in the Persian Gulf Naqqāli, Iranian dramatic story-telling
Inscribed in 2012	Qalishuyan rituals of Mashhad Ardehal near Kashan
Inscribed in 2016	Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka
Inscribed in 2017	Art of crafting and playing with Kamancheh/Kamancha, a bowed string musical instrument Chogan, a horse-riding game accompanied by music and storytelling
Inscribed in 2019	Traditional skills of crafting and playing Dotar