‘LINE’ IN MINIATURE PAINTING: THE SINGLE PAGE MINIATURE PAINTINGS OF RIZÂ-yi ABBÂSÎ

Line, as being one of the major factors in design principles, is used to imitate nature, to express the forms of objects, to illustrate the imaginary things with sketches and to decorate any kind of surface. In miniature paintings, which visualize the text they are involved and make contribution to the explanation of the text, line is used with an attitude of ignoring the details of the form and intending to express the essence of the form. However, line has gained different functions in the single page miniature paintings which started to be produced in the period of Safavids throughout the second half of 16th and 17th centuries, especially in Isfahan. In this style, lines are drawn with brushes in tones using ink; besides, as they are used in various tones of a single colour, forms have gained dimension. One of the most important representative of this calligraphic style, which is used in single page miniature paintings extensively produced in the period of Safavids from the second half of the 16th century, is Rızâ-yi Abbâsî. In this paper, it is intended to disscuss the use of line in miniature painting and its role in producing organic/inorganic forms with the selected miniaturepaintings of Rızâ-yi Abbâsî.