Rago Auctions

Since the early 1970s, Jacob El Hanani has been practicing the art of micrography. An ancient technique, it features minuscule calligraphic letters drawn over and over to create abstract designs and was used by Jewish scribes to transcribe or decorate holy texts. El Hanani’s own works often incorporate Hebrew letters, representing a Tehillim or prayer, drawn in ink on canvas or paper. Working without a magnifier, El Hanani produces his delicate mark-making during ten-minute bursts to avoid straining his eyes. To complete a composition can take months or even years but once finished, his subtle, cloud-like works reveal themselves as intricate patterns capable of linking the microscopic to the infinite.