Calligraphy with verses by Hafiz, folio from an album 1833

Curator: Here we have a folio from an album, featuring calligraphy with verses by Hafiz, made by Muhammad Sadiq. Editor: It feels light, almost airy, despite the density of the script. Like a whispered secret on parchment. Curator: Indeed. The materiality speaks volumes. The paper itself, the pigments used for the calligraphy and decorative elements—all point to a deliberate and painstaking process. Consider the social context: calligraphy was elevated, a craft requiring years of training. Editor: I’m drawn to the interplay of the fluid script and the geometric patterns. It’s like a dance between the mystical and the structured. Does it make you think about the way knowledge was carefully shaped in those times? Curator: Absolutely. The labor involved, the meticulous execution, the consumption of precious materials – it was all part of a cultural and economic system that valued refinement. Editor: Thinking about the context gives the art even more depth. Curator: It certainly does.