Three Visual Languages

With figures set aside in religious settings, Islamic artists developed three rich alternatives, each with its own purpose:

• Geometry — interlocking stars and polygons that suggest order without end
• Arabesque — winding plant scrollwork that softens hard architectural lines
• Calligraphy — beautifully written words, the most revered form of all

The sections ahead look at where these came together most spectacularly, and at why the written word sits at the very top.