The Continuous Stroke of a Breath: Calligraphy from the Islamic World

Calligraphy—the art of ornamental writing—is the quintessential visual expression of the Muslim faith. From humble origins, the Arabic script evolved into a powerful and flexible form of aesthetic and spiritual expression. Muslim scribes were inspired to improve the legibility and artistic qualities of this script by the need to preserve and disseminate the Qur’an, which in the eyes of orthodox Muslims is the literal word of God. Over time, calligraphy spread from the written page to become a major decorative element in virtually every medium of Islamic art.

The Continuous Stroke of a Breath takes its title from a traditional expression that likens the movement of the pen in a masterful work of calligraphy to the flow of breath. Included in the exhibition are masterpieces of calligraphy from the 9th through the 20th century from Arab, Indian, Persian, and Turkish regions of the Islamic world.

Organized by Mary McWilliams, Norma Jean Calderwood Curator of Islamic and Later Indian Art, and Afsaneh Firouz-Ardalan, Calderwood Intern. Funded by the Eric Schroeder Fund and a generous grant from Melvin R. Seiden.