THIRTY AQUATINT ETCHINGS OF THE ARABIC ALPHABET BY HUSSEIN MADI (B. 1938) Lebanon, printed in 1973, each signed and dated, edition 32/99 Thirty aquatint zinc etchings printed in black on 300gr cotton white paper, the first sheet bearing the name of Allah followed by twenty-nine letters of the Arabic alphabet, each designed within a central circle, the main decorative technique consisting of multiplying by several times in a constrained space the calligraphic shape of the single letter leading to a kaleidoscopic effect, presented in a dark grey box bound by a flat spine and with a front cover embossed with the artist's signature and a representation of the word Alphabet in silver, each sheet 30cm x 24.4cm, each plate 15cm x 15cm. The introductory title page relates to the later Alphabet lithograph now part of the British Museum collection (printed in 1994; edition 8/40; reference number BM2005,0725,0.2). In Madi's works, it appears evident how his use of the art of calligraphy is half-pictorial and half-symbolical (E. Benezit, Grund, The Art of Madi, Al-Saqi Publisher, 2005). Indeed, Madi's letters merge into pictograms, creating complex calligraphic blazons almost reminiscent of Japanese mon designs.