diff --git a/.github/docker/linux/Dockerfile b/.github/docker/linux/Dockerfile
index 18b071ff..0a98dc94 100644
--- a/.github/docker/linux/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/docker/linux/Dockerfile
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ RUN yum install ${YUM_OPTIONS} \
     automake \
     libtool \
     diffutils \
+    gperf \
+    gettext-devel \
     openssl-devel \
     expat-devel \
     zlib-devel \
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ RUN yum install ${YUM_OPTIONS} \
     mpfr-devel \
     gmp-devel \
     libmpc-devel \
+    pango-devel \
     gtk-doc \
     gobject-introspection gobject-introspection-devel \
     glib2.x86_64 glib2-devel.x86_64 \
diff --git a/.github/docker/windows/Dockerfile b/.github/docker/windows/Dockerfile
index 9f66f0c1..73809e21 100644
--- a/.github/docker/windows/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/docker/windows/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-FROM fedora:32
+FROM fedora:33
 
 # Set default build arguments.
 ARG NODE_VERSION=10.x
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ ARG UID=1000
 ARG GID=1000
 
 # Set default environment variables.
-ENV JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-openjdk
+ENV JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.8.0-openjdk
 ENV PATH="${OSX_CROSS_HOME}/bin:${PATH}"
 ENV YUM_OPTIONS="-y --setopt=skip_missing_names_on_install=False"
 
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ RUN yum install ${YUM_OPTIONS} \
     automake \
     libtool \
     diffutils \
+    gperf \
+    gettext-devel \
     openssl-devel \
     expat-devel \
     zlib-devel \
@@ -44,13 +46,17 @@ RUN yum install ${YUM_OPTIONS} \
     gtk-doc \
     gobject-introspection gobject-introspection-devel \
     glib2.x86_64 glib2-devel.x86_64 \
-    java-1.8.0-openjdk \
+    java-1.8.0-openjdk-devel \
     mingw-w64-tools \
     mingw64-gcc \
     mingw64-gcc-c++ \
     mingw64-glib2 \
     mingw64-win-iconv \
-    mingw64-expat
+    mingw64-expat \
+    mingw64-pango
+
+RUN alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "${JAVA_HOME}/bin/java" 1
+RUN alternatives --set java ${JAVA_HOME}/bin/java
 
 # Link the system version of libmpfr, which is more recent than expected, but works fine.
 RUN ln -s /lib64/libmpfr.so.6 /lib64/libmpfr.so.4
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c98392b0..53eb27f4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ include(UseJava)
 SET (CMAKE_C_COMPILER_WORKS 1)
 SET (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_WORKS 1)
 
-set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "-std=c99")
+set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "-std=gnu99")
 set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEBUG "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -g3")
 set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -O3 -g")
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "-std=c++14")
diff --git a/lib/CMakeLists.txt b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
index 76e2358b..22ac805c 100644
--- a/lib/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 include(ExternalProject)
 
+find_program(MESON meson REQUIRED)
+find_program(NINJA ninja REQUIRED)
+
 # Read external project versions
 file(STRINGS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/VERSIONS VERSIONS_LIST)
 foreach(ITEM ${VERSIONS_LIST})
@@ -20,8 +23,8 @@ elseif(${BUILD_TARGET} STREQUAL "w64")
 endif()
 
 if (NOT DEFINED CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
-set(CONFIGURE_CFLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS}")
-set(CONFIGURE_CXXFLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS}")
+  set(CONFIGURE_CFLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS}")
+  set(CONFIGURE_CXXFLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS}")
 elseif (${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} STREQUAL "Release")
   set(CONFIGURE_CFLAGS ${CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE})
   set(CONFIGURE_CXXFLAGS ${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE})
@@ -44,6 +47,20 @@ list(APPEND CONFIGURE_VARS
   ${CONFIGURE_HOST}
   )
 
+list(APPEND MESON_VARS
+  --bindir=${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/bin
+  --libdir=${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib
+  --includedir=${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/include
+  --datadir=${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/share
+  --prefix=${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}
+  )
+
+if (NOT DEFINED BUILD_TARGET)
+  set(MESON_CROSS_FILE "")
+elseif(${BUILD_TARGET} STREQUAL "w64")
+  set(MESON_CROSS_FILE --cross-file ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/meson/x86_64-w64-mingw32-crossfile.txt)
+endif()
+
 find_library(LIBIMAGEQUANT imagequant PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
 if (NOT LIBIMAGEQUANT)
     # https://github.com/ImageOptim/libimagequant/issues/36
@@ -74,6 +91,74 @@ else()
     add_custom_target(libimagequant "")
 endif()
 
+find_library(FREETYPE freetype PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT FREETYPE)
+    ExternalProject_Add(freetype
+      URL "http://download.savannah.nongnu.org/releases/freetype/freetype-${FREETYPE_VERSION}.tar.gz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/freetype"
+      CMAKE_ARGS
+      -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}
+      -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=${CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE}
+      -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+      -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=1
+      -DENABLE_CCACHE=0
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(freetype "")
+endif()
+
+find_library(HARFBUZZ harfbuzz PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT HARFBUZZ)
+    ExternalProject_Add(harfbuzz
+      URL "https://github.com/harfbuzz/harfbuzz/releases/download/${HARFBUZZ_VERSION}/harfbuzz-${HARFBUZZ_VERSION}.tar.xz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/harfbuzz"
+      CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/harfbuzz/src/harfbuzz/configure
+      ${CONFIGURE_VARS}
+      --enable-shared=yes
+      --enable-static=no
+      --disable-gtk-doc
+      --disable-gtk-doc-html
+      --disable-gtk-doc-pdf
+      --with-icu=no
+      --enable-introspection=no
+      --with-freetype=yes
+      DEPENDS freetype
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(harfbuzz "")
+endif()
+
+find_library(FRIBIDI fribidi PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT FRIBIDI)
+    ExternalProject_Add(fribidi
+      URL "https://github.com/fribidi/fribidi/releases/download/v${FRIBIDI_VERSION}/fribidi-${FRIBIDI_VERSION}.tar.xz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/fribidi"
+      CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/fribidi/src/fribidi/configure
+      ${CONFIGURE_VARS}
+      --enable-shared
+      --disable-static
+      --disable-docs
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(fribidi "")
+endif()
+
+find_library(PIXMAN pixman-1 PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT PIXMAN)
+    ExternalProject_Add(pixman
+      URL "http://www.cairographics.org/releases/pixman-${PIXMAN_VERSION}.tar.gz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pixman"
+      CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pixman/src/pixman/configure
+      ${CONFIGURE_VARS}
+      --enable-shared
+      --disable-static
+      --disable-docs
+      --disable-gtk
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(pixman "")
+endif()
+
 find_library(LIBEXIF exif PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
 if(NOT LIBEXIF)
     ExternalProject_Add(libexif
@@ -169,6 +254,69 @@ else()
     add_custom_target(libpng "")
 endif()
 
+find_library(FONTCONFIG fontconfig PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT FONTCONFIG)
+    ExternalProject_Add(fontconfig
+      URL "https://github.com/freedesktop/fontconfig/archive/refs/tags/${FONTCONFIG_VERSION}.tar.gz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/fontconfig"
+      CONFIGURE_COMMAND ./autogen.sh
+      ${CONFIGURE_VARS}
+      --enable-shared
+      --disable-static
+      --disable-docs
+      --disable-nls
+      DEPENDS freetype
+      BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(fontconfig "")
+endif()
+
+find_library(CAIRO cairo PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT CAIRO)
+    if (NOT DEFINED BUILD_TARGET)
+      set(CAIRO_XLIB_FLAG "--enable-xlib")
+      set(CAIRO_CROSS_TARGET_FLAG "")
+    elseif(${BUILD_TARGET} STREQUAL "w64")
+      set(CAIRO_XLIB_FLAG "--disable-xlib")
+      set(CAIRO_CROSS_TARGET_FLAG "--enable-win32")
+    endif()
+    ExternalProject_Add(cairo
+      URL "http://www.cairographics.org/releases/cairo-${CAIRO_VERSION}.tar.xz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cairo"
+      CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cairo/src/cairo/configure
+      ${CONFIGURE_VARS}
+      --enable-shared
+      --disable-static
+      --disable-docs
+      --disable-gl
+      --disable-xcb
+      --without-x
+      --disable-ps
+      ${CAIRO_CROSS_TARGET_FLAGS}
+      DEPENDS libpng freetype pixman fontconfig
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(cairo "")
+endif()
+
+find_library(PANGO pango-1.0 PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
+if(NOT PANGO)
+    ExternalProject_Add(pango
+      URL "https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/pango/-/archive/${PANGO_VERSION}/pango-${PANGO_VERSION}.tar.gz"
+      PREFIX "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pango"
+      CONFIGURE_COMMAND meson ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pango/buildir ${MESON_CROSS_FILE}
+      ${MESON_VARS}
+      -Dintrospection=disabled
+      BUILD_COMMAND ninja -C ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pango/buildir
+      INSTALL_COMMAND ninja -C ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/pango/buildir install
+      BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
+      DEPENDS cairo freetype harfbuzz fribidi
+      )
+else()
+    add_custom_target(pango "")
+endif()
+
 find_library(GIFLIB gif PATHS "${EXT_INSTALL_DIR}/lib" NO_DEFAULT_PATH)
 if (NOT GIFLIB)
     # giflib hasn't a standard build system, don't append CONFIGURE_VARS
@@ -303,7 +451,7 @@ if(NOT VIPS)
       --without-rsvg
       ${LIBSPNG_FLAGS}
       ${LIBHEIF_FLAGS}
-      DEPENDS libjpeg libpng libspng giflib libwebp libimagequant lcms2 libheif tiff
+      DEPENDS libjpeg libpng libspng giflib libwebp libimagequant lcms2 libheif tiff pango
       BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
       )
 else()
diff --git a/lib/VERSIONS b/lib/VERSIONS
index e45436c4..eeb19756 100644
--- a/lib/VERSIONS
+++ b/lib/VERSIONS
@@ -9,4 +9,11 @@ AOM_VERSION=2.0.0
 HEIF_VERSION=1.9.1
 LCMS2_VERSION=2.11
 TIFF_VERSION=4.1.0
+FREETYPE_VERSION=2.12.1
+HARFBUZZ_VERSION=2.7.2
+FRIBIDI_VERSION=1.0.10
+PIXMAN_VERSION=0.40.0
+FONTCONFIG_VERSION=2.14.0
+CAIRO_VERSION=1.16.0
+PANGO_VERSION=1.50.7
 VIPS_VERSION=8.12.2
diff --git a/meson/x86_64-w64-mingw32-crossfile.txt b/meson/x86_64-w64-mingw32-crossfile.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..176e3a3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson/x86_64-w64-mingw32-crossfile.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# See: https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/blob/32c22ec492fb471dc0c1bfdbb83404a486e4a72a/cross/linux-mingw-w64-64bit.txt
+
+[binaries]
+c = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc'
+cpp = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++'
+ranlib = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-ranlib'
+nm = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-nm'
+ld = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-ld'
+objdump = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-objdump'
+ar = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-ar'
+strip = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-strip'
+pkgconfig = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-pkg-config'
+windres = '/usr/bin/x86_64-w64-mingw32-windres'
+
+[properties]
+# Directory that contains 'bin', 'lib', etc
+root = '/usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32'
+needs_exe_wrapper = True
+
+[host_machine]
+system = 'windows'
+cpu_family = 'x86_64'
+cpu = 'x86_64'
+endian = 'little'
diff --git a/src/main/c/VipsImage.c b/src/main/c/VipsImage.c
index d9f1def9..08bccada 100644
--- a/src/main/c/VipsImage.c
+++ b/src/main/c/VipsImage.c
@@ -817,6 +817,38 @@ JNICALL Java_com_criteo_vips_VipsImage_removeAutorotAngle(JNIEnv *env, jobject i
     vips_autorot_remove_angle(im);
 }
 
+JNIEXPORT jobject
+JNICALL Java_com_criteo_vips_VipsImage_textNative(JNIEnv *env, jclass cls, jstring text, jstring font, jint width,
+                                                  jint height, jint align, jboolean justify, jint dpi, jint spacing,
+                                                  jstring fontfile, jboolean rgba)
+{
+    VipsImage *out = NULL;
+    const char *_text = NULL;
+    const char *_font = NULL;
+    const char *_fontfile = NULL;
+
+    if (text != NULL)
+        _text = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, text, NULL);
+    if (font != NULL)
+        _font = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, font, NULL);
+    if (fontfile != NULL)
+        _fontfile = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, fontfile, NULL);
+
+    if (vips_text(&out, _text, "font", _font, "width", width, "height", height, "align", align, "justify", justify,
+                  "dpi", dpi, "spacing", spacing, "fontfile", _fontfile, "rgba", rgba, NULL))
+    {
+        throwVipsException(env, "Unable to render text image");
+    }
+
+    if (text != NULL)
+        (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, text, _text);
+    if (font != NULL)
+        (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, font, _font);
+    if (fontfile != NULL)
+        (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, fontfile, _fontfile);
+    return (*env)->NewObject(env, cls, ctor_mid, (jlong) out);
+}
+
 
 JNIEXPORT jobject
 JNICALL Java_com_criteo_vips_VipsImage_joinNative(JNIEnv *env, jclass cls, jobject in1, jobject in2, jint direction)
diff --git a/src/main/c/VipsImage.h b/src/main/c/VipsImage.h
index a953fa91..5c8ce129 100644
--- a/src/main/c/VipsImage.h
+++ b/src/main/c/VipsImage.h
@@ -359,6 +359,14 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_com_criteo_vips_VipsImage_autorot
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_com_criteo_vips_VipsImage_removeAutorotAngle
   (JNIEnv *, jobject);
 
+/*
+ * Class:     com_criteo_vips_VipsImage
+ * Method:    textNative
+ * Signature: (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;IIIZIILjava/lang/String;Z)Lcom/criteo/vips/VipsImage;
+ */
+JNIEXPORT jobject JNICALL Java_com_criteo_vips_VipsImage_textNative
+  (JNIEnv *, jclass, jstring, jstring, jint, jint, jint, jboolean, jint, jint, jstring, jboolean);
+
 /*
  * Class:     com_criteo_vips_VipsImage
  * Method:    clone
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/Vips.java b/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/Vips.java
index 0b4786ad..10e374dd 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/Vips.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/Vips.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-  Copyright (c) 2019 Criteo
+  Copyright (c) 2022 Criteo
 
   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ public class Vips {
     private static final String SYSTEM_NAME = System.getProperty("os.name").toLowerCase();
 
     private static final String[] LINUX_LIBRARIES = {
+            "freetype",
+            "harfbuzz",
+            "fribidi",
+            "pixman-1",
+            "fontconfig",
+            "cairo",
+            "pango-1.0",
             "aom",
             "heif",
             "exif",
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImage.java b/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImage.java
index 984a5c88..048a6f42 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImage.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImage.java
@@ -330,6 +330,34 @@ public VipsInterpretation getInterpretation() {
 
     public native void removeAutorotAngle();
 
+    /**
+     * Draw the string text to an image.
+     * Output image is normally a one-band 8-bit unsigned char image, with 0 for no text and 255 for text.
+     * Values between are used for anti-aliasing.
+     *
+     * @param text is the text to render as a UTF-8 string. It can contain Pango markup, for example <i>The</i>Guardian
+     * @param font font to render with
+     * @param width image should be no wider than this many pixels
+     * @param height image should be no higher than this many pixels
+     * @param align set justification alignment
+     * @param justify justify lines
+     * @param dpi render at this resolution
+     * @param rgba enable RGBA output
+     * @param spacing space lines by this in points
+     * @param fontfile load this font file
+     * @param rgba enable RGBA output
+     * @throws VipsException if error
+     */
+    public static VipsImage text(String text, String font, int width, int height, VipsAlign align, boolean justify,
+                                 int dpi, int spacing, String fontfile, boolean rgba)
+            throws VipsException {
+        return textNative(text, font, width, height, align.getValue(), justify, dpi, spacing, fontfile, rgba);
+    }
+
+    private static native VipsImage textNative(String text, String font, int width, int height, int align,
+                                               boolean justify, int dpi, int spacing, String fontfile, boolean rgba)
+            throws VipsException;
+
     public native VipsImage clone() throws VipsException;
 
     public native void release();
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImageTest.java b/src/test/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImageTest.java
index f0f5e1d6..0404a823 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImageTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/criteo/vips/VipsImageTest.java
@@ -970,4 +970,40 @@ public void TestShouldThrowErrorOnOperationIfTruncatedImage() throws IOException
             // expected
         }
     }
+
+    @Test
+    public void TestShouldRenderTextFromDefaultFont() throws VipsException {
+        int expectedBands = 1;
+        int width = 512;
+        int height = 256;
+        int dpi = 144;
+        int spacing = 1;
+        String str = "Hello World!";
+        try (VipsImage text = VipsImage.text(str, null, width, height, VipsAlign.Centre, false, dpi, spacing,
+                null, false)) {
+            assertEquals(expectedBands, text.getBands());
+        }
+        catch (Exception e) {
+            fail("Should not throw exception when rendering text");
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void TestShouldRenderCyrillicTextFromFontfile() throws VipsException {
+        String fontfile = VipsTestUtils.getRessourcePath("Roboto-Regular.ttf");
+        String font = "Roboto Regular 32";
+        int expectedBands = 4;
+        int width = 512;
+        int height = 256;
+        int dpi = 144;
+        int spacing = 1;
+        String str = "<span color=\"red\"> Здравейте от София!</span>";
+        try (VipsImage text = VipsImage.text(str, font, width, height, VipsAlign.Centre, false, dpi, spacing,
+                fontfile, true)) {
+            assertEquals(expectedBands, text.getBands());
+        }
+        catch (Exception e) {
+            fail("Should not throw exception when rendering text");
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/resources/Roboto-Regular.ttf b/src/test/resources/Roboto-Regular.ttf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d6861b4
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/test/resources/Roboto-Regular.ttf differ