Halim Efendi’s Meşk Murakkai

Mustafa Halim Özyazıcı (1898-1964) Efendi’s Nesih, Divani, Celi Divani, Rik’a Meşk Murakkaı, Halim Efendi, one of the most powerful calligraphers of the last generation, whose precedent we rarely come across in the past, was born on 14 January 1898 – 20 Şaban 1315 in the Haseki district of Istanbul (Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa Mahallesi, Koca Yusuf Street, nr.51). His father is Nalınci Hacı Cemal Efendi and his mother is Adviye Hanım.

After completing his primary education at Esekapu (Isa Gate) Primary School, Halim Efendi continued to Haseki Gülsen-i Maarif Secondary School and received a diploma with a very good degree from there. His father, who saw his talent and interest in art, tried to bring the pleasure of beautiful writing to little Halim. Halim Efendi expressed his father’s efforts from time to time; “I started writing with the encouragement of my father. He describes the writing to me, he carves my pen with care; he loved it. Rest in peace. May God be pleased with him.” However, he took his first writing practice in the traditional method from Hamid Bey, the calligraphy teacher of the High School. Hamid Bey, sensing the artistic genius of Halim, took care of him and prepared him as the best calligrapher of the future.

After attending Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi for a year, Halim Efendi was enrolled as a student in Medresetül Calligraphy, which was opened by Şeyhülislam Hayri Efendi in 1914 as an affiliate of the Evkaf-ı İslamiyye museum, as an artist who was trained at an advanced level in the art of calligraphy. Here, he learned celi thuluth and tugra from İsmail Hakkı Bey, divani from Ferid Bey, and rik’a writing from Said Bey, and received a diploma on September 26, 1918 (20 Zilhijja 1336).