The Metropolitan Museum of Art has over 2 million pieces of artwork in its 2.2 million-square-foot space. Met was originally not so big, but as more and more art work was added, various additions were made to the museum. The Met Museum was founded in the year 1870 by businessmen and artists. The Met’s mission was to teach the American people about art. The Metropolitan Museum is home to many collections, including those on London firearms. This essay will focus on the collection that features writing and pictures in Islamic Calligraphy. Calligraphy, also known as written art, is composed lettering using a broad-tipped brush or other writing tools. Many people are intrigued by the calligraphy and images in this collection. Calligraphy is derived from the Greek word kallos which means beauty. The Met Museum reflects this beauty. Calligraphy is an important part of Islamic culture. It is also a key element in Islamic art. The Qur’an – the central religious text for Islam – is seen by Muslims as a revelation of God. The Qur’an is written in Arabic Calligraphy, which is a form of art. In calligraphy, a word can look like a series of brush strokes. Or if you write merely a letter it will appear like tangled knots. In Islamic art, patterns of plants are considered decorative. In the Islamic culture, calligraphy enhances architecture, everyday objects and other items. Islam is the only religion that has such a creative, decorative writing style.
Since April 8, 2019, the Metropolitan Museum’s Islamic calligraphy exhibit has featured about 40 beautiful calligraphy-based attractions. The Met’s objects show the combination between writing and drawing in Islamic calligraphy. The Metropolitan Museum houses works of art that date from the ninth-century to the present. These include ceramic arts, metalwork, Qur’an artwork, and paperwritten calligraphy. The Metropolitan Museum has a collection of contemporary work from artists in Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran. These are countries that rely heavily on the written word as their main artistic medium. Islamic calligraphy began in the 7thcentury when the Qur’an was written. Kufic calligraphy is named after the city of southern Iraq. Calligraphy was then a popular form of decorative and creative art. The Islamic collection has impacted the museum. The collections show the interconnectedness and diversity of the cultures. The art gives visitors a chance explore rich Islamic culture and its artistic abilities. With more knowledge, the Metropolitan Museum grows and becomes more popular. The Islamic Calligraphy Collection has made an impression on museum visitors. The collection gives the visitors an idea of what calligraphy can be. Visitors are attracted to the beauty, sophistication, and uniqueness of Islamic calligraphy. Islamic calligraphy influences different cultures to be more creative. Islamic art was a part of a cultural exchange that brought in new art styles. Calligraphy is a very popular style in many schools. Not because I am a Muslim, but because the calligraphy that is used by Muslims as their art form fascinates me. My Quran contains Arabic calligraphy. I didn’t know I was reading art nearly every other day.
The first time I walked into the Metropolitan Museum it seemed like a big building full of people. After spending the day in Central Park across the road, I decided that I’d explore the museum. After walking in and looking at the various collections, I noticed the Islamic art collection to my left. When I went to see it, I saw the first piece, a pink page ripped from a Qur’an. I was sure I’d seen this before. I was able to read it with ease and thought it was fascinating, because it is rare that you see Qur’ans in such different colors or so old. The Islamic calligraphy I hadn’t known existed was in fact art. When I went through the entire Islamic Collection, I found that everything was absolutely unique. I had never seen anything like it before. My sisters came along with me because I was so amazed. Mosque Lamp from the Mausoleum Amir Aydakin al-‘Ala’i al-Bunduqdar. The light-brownish shade of the lamp was created in Cairo, after 1285. I was drawn to the way this piece of art is constructed. There is an Arabic calligraphy bow in the center. I know how to read Arabic, but don’t understand the meaning of what I am reading. I asked someone for help. Writings on the lamp reveal that it was ordered by Aidakin’s mausoleum – a Cairo building. A prayer mat, a carpet made of wool, was another important piece. The calligraphy, which is a form of pseudo-kufic calligraphy, was written all around the carpet. The designer originally intended to have Arabic calligraphy written on all four border lines, but he realized that this would make the Arabic writing difficult to read. He blurred the calligraphy so it appeared illegible. I am able to read Arabic on the other three borders. The Met’s Islamic Calligraphy Collection is very beautiful.
The artifacts in The Metropolitan Museum’s Islamic collection have provenances from countries all over the globe. Asadullah Shrazi is the artist who created Album Leaf With Calligraphic Exercice. He wrote even a book of practice pages for calligraphers to improve their hand strength and discipline. ‘Abd al-Qadir Hisari was the creator of the Prayer Book. He is known for creating “calligrams as well as pictorial and calligraphic compositions”. Calligraphic Galleon also exists in his collection. The image is of a ship with the names “Seven Sleepers and Their Dog” written in Islamic calligraphy on the bottom. The Hagop Kevorkian Fund, which I learned about through my research was the one who made this exhibit possible. The exhibition includes works from the entire Islamic world including Spain, South Asia, as well as other places. Many people around the globe are fond of New York’s Metropolitan Museum. The museum has a wide variety of artworks, as they come from all over the world. The exhibition will close on 3 November. Only three months have passed since the pieces were displayed. The exhibition is a great way to see how different pieces of art can convey a message through writing or pictures. The museum has a wide variety of artwork, including ceramics, carpets, and paperwork. The Islamic art exhibition at The Met demonstrates how Islamic cultures have explored and developed the decorative and creative abilities of written works. Written work is a common form of artistic expression and communication in many Islamic countries. The Islamic calligraphy exhibit at The Met Museum has just as much beauty and fascination as the rest of the exhibits.
