Layers of cream, teal and rose calligraphy overlap on black

Dense, overlapping lines of calligraphy cover the sheet in cream, teal, ochre and rose-pink ink against a black ground, the letterforms layered so thickly that individual words interlock and cross one another. A small pale signature flourish sits at the lower left corner. No border or illumination frames the page; the calligraphy alone fills the black ground edge to edge.

Muhammad Shafi' of Shiraz, known by his pen name Vesal, was among the most celebrated calligraphers and poets of Qajar Iran. He came from a line of scribes who had served the local courts of Shiraz, and his dated calligraphy runs from 1817 to 1844. Proficient above all in naskh and nasta'liq, he wrote naskh in the revival manner of the late Safavid masters, and he was buried at the shrine of Shah Cheragh in Shiraz. His calligraphy is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.