Arabic Calligraphy

From the dawn of the new religion, Muslims felt the need to decorate books, manuscripts, mosques, palaces, and all other major monuments. However, scholars, keen to combat anything reminiscent of polytheism and animism, forbade painting and sculpture. To compensate for this restriction, Muslim artists channeled all their talents into calligraphy.

They masterfully exploited the extraordinary flexibility and exceptional richness of Arabic script to create masterpieces in decorative art. They breathed life into the letters, transforming them into plants abundant with branches, leaves, and flowers. The harmonious fusion between writing and botanical motifs gave rise to what the West calls “Arabesque.”

After a few centuries, Arabic calligraphy evolved into a unique form of artistic expression and a fascinating decorative motif. Thanks to this exceptional historical phenomenon and these great challenges, Arabic calligraphy has become, through its diversity, artistic richness, and creative capacities, a writing style unlike any other in the world.