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Album Leaf with Calligraphic Exercise (siyah mashq)

Calligrapher Asadullah Shirazi Iranian
dated 1258 AH/1842–3 CE
Not on view
Originally, practice pages were intended to strengthen a calligrapher’s hand and instill discipline through the repetition of letters or groups of letters. They emerged as a popular art form after the sixteenth century in a fascinating manifestation of calligraphic abstraction. Generally devoid of meaning, mashq pages are meant to be enjoyed solely for their aesthetic merits. Many were set into borders, placed into albums, and exchanged as gifts. This example epitomizes the creative spirit of this genre.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Album Leaf with Calligraphic Exercise (siyah mashq)
  • Calligrapher: Asadullah Shirazi (Iranian (active 1830s–50s))
  • Date: dated 1258 AH/1842–3 CE
  • Geography: Made in Iran
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 18 7/8 in. (48 cm)
    W. 13 in. (33 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2016
  • Object Number: 2016.536
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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