For the first reading workshop we read a journal article called The Brush and the Burin: Mogul Encounters with European Engravings by Yael Rice.

Team 3: In contrast to this, what is the author arguing for in this essay?

The author wants to give attention to the European engravings and “consider the different ways in which European engravings were absorbed into the visual lexicon of Mogul art production”. The author argues that “Mogul artists and patrons were particularly drawn to the physical and technical qualities of European engravings” (page 1).

Team 3: How can we understand calligraphy in the Mughal context?

According to Yael Rice, calligraphy was “considered on par with – or even more important than – painting”. The author mentioned that Mogul emperors enjoys collecting calligraphic specimens and usually “at least half of an album comprised works of calligraphy”  (page 4).

Team 3: What is the relationship between engravings and calligraphy?

In the article, Ernst Kühnel and Hermann Goetz explained that “Mogul artists and connoisseurs had mistaken the prints for quill drawings”. The author mentioned that “Mogul artists and patrons found a kinship” with both burin and reed pen as “engravings are decidedly calligraphic” (page 5).