The art of penmanship in Iran: the shining gem of traditional arts
Pen painting is an art that has its roots in the rich history and culture of Iran and is known as one of the most valuable artistic heritages of this land. This delicate and beautiful art, by combining the art of painting and printing, is performed on natural fabrics and creates works with various designs and vivid colors.
History of calligraphy in Iran
Kalamkar has a long history in Iran and its roots go back to the Safavid era. In this period, with the support of Shah Abbas Safavi, the penmanship art reached its peak and Isfahan was known as the main center of penmanship production in Iran. Calligraphy designs at that time were often taken from Iranian nature, mythology and architecture.
The steps of making a pen
Making a Qalamkar cloth includes several steps:
- Fabric preparation: Raw fabrics are usually made of cotton or silk, which are ready for printing after washing and dyeing.
- Sketch design: Sketch designs are often drawn manually using a brush or ready-made designs are used.
- Design engraving on wood: The designed design is engraved on a piece of wood to be used as a printing template.
- Design printing on fabric: a wooden template is dipped in paint and the design is transferred to it by pressing on the fabric.
- Print repetition: This process is repeated for all parts of the design.
- Drying and color stabilization: after printing, the fabric is washed and steamed to stabilize the color.
Sketches of penman
Calligraphy designs are very diverse and are usually inspired by natural elements such as flowers, plants, birds and animals. Some of the common pen designs are: - Slim and Khatai designs: These designs include intricate and intertwined lines that symbolize beauty and elegance.
- Flower and bush designs: These designs are inspired by nature and often include flowers, leaves and tree branches.
- Animal designs: Animal designs such as birds, fish and hunting animals are very common in calligraphy.
- Geometric designs: These designs include geometric shapes such as squares, circles, and triangles that repeat regularly.
Pen applications
Pen has various uses in Iran. Among them, the following can be mentioned: - Clothing: Qalamkar fabrics are used to sew all kinds of traditional and modern clothes.
- Tablecloths and tablecloths: Kalamkar tablecloths and tablecloths are used to decorate houses and ceremonies.
- Curtain: Qalamkar curtains are used to create a beautiful and traditional atmosphere at home.
- Cushions and pillowcases: Gelamkar cushions and pillowcases are used to decorate sofas and beds.