Visiting The Met? The Met Fifth Avenue is closed Monday, May 5 for The Met Gala. Watch the red carpet livestream on our website at 5:30 pm EDT.

The economy of this Persian pen drawing wouldn't be possible without calligraphy

"There's no break in the line; there's no hesitation in the hand of the artist."

"There's no break in the line; there's no hesitation in the hand of the artist."

Curator Sheila Canby on a Persian drawing of a horseman and groom.

Explore this object:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/447803

Throughout 2013, The Met invited curators from across the Museum to each talk about one artwork that changed the way they see the world. Each episode is interpreted by a Museum photographer.

Photography by Eileen Travell

Subscribe for new content from The Met: https://www.youtube.com/user/metmuseum?sub_confirmation=1

#TheMet #ArtExplained #Art


Contributors

Sheila Canby
Patti Cadby Birch Curator in Charge, Department of Islamic Art

Close-up of a Queen of Clubs playing card with a cut-out section. Behind it, a faded, ghostly face is visible, creating a surreal, mysterious mood.
The artist’s work challenges the social and political context of mass incarceration.
Lisa Sutcliffe
April 28
A sheet of paper with a figure and cutout outfits for dressing up paper dolls.
Historic paper dolls from the Drawings and Prints collection tell a story of conspicuous consumption and evolving social values.
Liliya Dashevski
March 12
More in:Art ExplainedPortraitureMaterials

A slider containing 1 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.