Introducing the art of Arabic, Ottoman, & Persian calligraphy

Nasta‘liq

(Pronounced “nes-tah-leek”; called “talik” in Turkey, called “farsi” in the Arab world)

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Meaning

  • “Nasta‘liq” is thought to be a hybrid of the words “naskh” and “ta‘liq”

Uses

  • Nasta‘liq was originally devised to write the Persian language
  • Used in Persia and India/Pakistan for literary and non-Qur’anic works
  • Used for writing Persian poetry
  • Used for albums of calligraphic specimens, called qit‘a

Timeline

  • Developed in 15th century Iran and perfected in the 16th century in Baghdad and Tabriz
  • Still in use today

Distinctive characteristics

  • Features characteristics of both naskh and ta‘liq
  • Vertical strokes are short, horizontal strokes are broad and sweeping
  • Letter shapes appear to be deep and hook-like
  • Letter shapes vary widely in thickness
  • Overall impression of swiftness, calm, fluidity
  • Letters appear to “float” or “hang” across the page. This quality is increased when the text is arranged diagonally, as is common in nasta‘liq poetry
  • Nasta‘liq is never written with vowels except an occasional hamza and shadda

Notes

  • Very difficult to execute
  • Possibly created by Mir ‘Ali Tabrizi as a result of a dream about flying ducks
Poetry verses
Nasta‘liq script. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, African and Middle Eastern Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714662/
Levha
Nasta‘liq script. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, African and Middle Eastern Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714526/
Folio from Divan (collected poems) of Sultan Husayn Mirza (d.1506)
Nasta‘liq script. Freer Gallery of Art. https://asia.si.edu/object/F1929.66
Calligraphic page
Nasta‘liq script. Freer Gallery of Art. https://asia.si.edu/object/F1948.28/
Calligraphy from the St. Petersburg album
Nasta‘liq script. Freer Gallery of Art. https://asia.si.edu/object/F1942.18b/

Image gallery

View the full nasta‘liq image gallery