Calligraphy (verso)
1650
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1650
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see black ink swirling across cream paper—Persian poetry in looping, elegant script. The words celebrate spring, wine, and love, but they also hint at something deeper. The poem mixes earthly joy with spiritual longing, like two sides of the same feeling. This kind of calligraphy, called *nasta‘liq*, was meant to be beautiful to read *and* look at. If you like this, explore more about india, deccan, 17th century.
