Welcome

Welcome to Calligraphy Qalam—we’re glad you’re here. On this website you’ll find a variety of interactive tools and information to help you learn more about calligraphy in the Arab, Ottoman, and Persian traditions.

This video introduces the art of calligraphy in the Arab, Ottoman, and Persian traditions and discusses the unique features of the Arabic script.

Featured Images

Detached folio from a Qur’an, sura 11:61-71

Folio from the “Blue Qur'an”

Part One of a Royal Copy of al-Yahsubi’s Kitab al-Shifa’ bi-Ta‘rif Huquq al-Mustafa

Qur’anic verses

Featured Styles

Kufic

Folio from a Qur’an, sura 5:34-36

Thuluth

Album of calligraphy

Nasta‘liq

Poetry verses

Ta‘liq

Folio of calligraphy

Elisabeth Kvernen and Elinor Aishah Holland

About

Elisabeth Kvernen created this website for her MFA Thesis in 2009 in collaboration with Elinor Aishah Holland, and since that time it has become an essential resource for students of the Arabic language who want to learn more about Arabic script calligraphy. The site was redesigned in 2021 with support from the College of Arts & Letters at James Madison University.