Islamic Art :: essays research papers

Muslim ArtIslamic contrivance is perhaps the most accessible manifestation of a complexcivilization that often seems enigmatic to outsiders. Through its brilliant use ofcolor and its superb balance between design and form, Islamic art creates an nimble visual impact. Its strong aesthetic appeal transcends distances in timeand space, as well as differences in language, culture, and creed. Islamic art notonly invites a closer look but also beckons the viewer to learn more.The term Islamic art may be confusing to some. It not only describes theart created specifically in the service of , but it also characterizes blue artproduced in lands under Islamic rule or influence, whatever the artists or thepatrons spectral affiliation. The term suggests an art unified in style andpurpose, and indeed there are certain common features that fill in the artsof all Islamic lands.1 Although this is a highly dynamic art, which is often markedby strong regional characteristics as well as by signif icant influences from othercultures, it retains an overall coherence that is remarkable given its vastgeographic and temporal boundaries. Of paramount concern to the developmentof this singular art is Islam itself, which fostered the creation of a distinctive visualculture with its own unique artistic language. Calligraphy is the most importantand pervasive element in Islamic art. It has always been considered the noblestform of art because of its association with the , the Muslim holy book, which iswritten in Arabic. This preoccupation with beautiful writing extended to all artsincluding secular manuscripts inscriptions on palaces and those applied tometalwork, pottery, stone, glass, wood, and textiles and to non-Arabic-speakingpeoples within the Islamic commonwealth whose languages such as Persian,Turkish, and Urdu were written in the Arabic script. Another characteristic ofIslamic art is a preference for covering surfaces with patterns composed ofgeometric or vegetal elements. Co mplex geometric designs, as well as intricatepatterns of vegetal ornament (such as the arabesque), create the impression ofunending repetition, which is believed by some to be an inducement tocontemplate the infinite nature of God. This type of nonrepresentationaldecoration may contribute been developed to such a high degree in Islamic artbecause of the absence of figural imagery, at least within a religious context.Contrary to a popular misconception, however, figural imagery is animportant aspect of Islamic art. Such images occur primarily in secular andespecially obliging arts and appear in a wide variety of media and in most periodsand places in which Islam flourished. It is important to note, nevertheless, that