Calligraphic Galleon 1741 - 1792

This impressive drawing, made by ‘Abd al-Qadir Hisari, depicts a galleon using ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The drawing gives the impression of the ship being constructed from the very words that adorn its hull. This creates an interesting juxtaposition: ships are built, plank by plank, from natural resources, yet here, a ship emerges from the immaterial resource of language. We might consider this drawing as a metaphor for global trade, in which ships are not just modes of transportation, but also symbolic vessels for carrying cultural exchange and knowledge. Notice, too, how the calligraphy lends the ship its texture. Calligraphy, like carpentry, is a patient, skilled practice that relies on the hand, eye, and mind working in perfect coordination. This drawing beautifully synthesizes the intellectual and material, challenging our traditional art historical distinctions.