The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of March 15, 2026
Towards Another Land
2012
calligraphy by Hassan Massoudy
text by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
Paper: 74.9 x 54.9 cm (29 1/2 x 21 5/8 in.)
L. E. Holden Fund 2013.65
Location: Not on view
Did You Know?
Instead of following traditional classical styles of Arabic calligraphy which were written with deep brown ink, Massoudy developed his own distinctive styles and introduced a masterful use of vibrant colors in his compositions.Description
This dynamic calligraphic art by the Iraqi artist Hassan Massoudy integrates three styles of Arabic script. Large Arabic letters with strong sweeping curves washed in opalescent turquoise complement the small text written in his elegant version of angular Kufic script. It reads, "Towards another land—a country where only light reigns," by the Iranian poet Rumi. Silhouetted script in the central area contributes to the vibrant harmony of this stunning work.Hassan Massoudy grew up in Iraq where he practiced calligraphy but had to emigrate in order to study figure painting. In Paris, however, calligraphy became increasingly prominent in his art, eventually it took over, and has also been incorporated in his performance art.
- 2012–Collection of the artist to Sundaram Tagore Gallery?–2013(Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)2013–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Mackie, Louise W. “2013 Acquisitions: Islamic Art.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 54, no. 2 (March/April 2014): 15. Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 15 archive.org
- Islamic art rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 16, 2013-December 15, 2014).
- {{cite web|title=Towards Another Land|url=false|author=Hassan Massoudy, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi|year=2012|access-date=15 March 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2013.65