The　time　of　the　illustration。“

What　were　my　thoughts？　Listen　closely。

Painting　and　Time

Long ago； as is mon knowledge； the illustrators of our Islamic realm；

including； for example； the old Arab masters； perceiving the world the way

Frankish infidels do today； would regard everything and depict it from the

level of a vagabond； mutt or clerk at work in his shop。 Unaware of today’s

perspectival techniques； of which the Frankish masters haughtily boast； their

world remained dull and limited； restricted to the simple perspective of the

mutt　or　the　shop　clerk。　Then　a　great　event　came　to　pass　and　our　entire　world

of　illustration　changed。　Let　me　begin　here。

Three　Stories　on　Painting　and　Time

ALIF

Three hundred fifty years ago； when Baghdad fell to the Mongols and was

mercilessly　plundered　on　a　cold　day　in　the　month　of　Safar；　Ibn　Shakir　was　the

most renowned and proficient calligrapher and scribe not only of the whole

Arab　world　but　of　all　Islamdom；　despite　his　youth；　he　had　transcribed　twenty…

two volumes； most of which were Korans and could be found in the world…

famous　libraries　of　Baghdad。　Ibn　Shakir　believed　these　books　would　last　until

the　end　of　the　world；　and；　therefore；　lived　with　a　deep　and　infinite　notion　of

time。　He’d　toiled　heroica