Islamic Art Notes

Islamic Art

  • Encompasses visual arts produced in the Islamic world.

  • Includes architecture, calligraphy, miniature painting, glass, pottery, and textiles.

  • Includes both religious and secular art forms.

  • Not all Islamic art is religious, and not all artists were Muslim.

  • Aims at beautifying everyday life; utilitarian objects become works of art.

. Stylized or abstract depictions of motifs.

Key Characteristics

  • Recurrent Motifs: Geometrical, floral, or vegetal designs in repetition (arabesque).

  • Arabesque: Symbolizes the transcendent, indivisible, and infinite nature of God.

  • Aniconism: Avoidance of depicting animate beings in some interpretations; stems from the prohibition of idolatry.

  • Absence of figures, use of calligraphic, geometric, and abstract floral patterns in religious art.

Geometric Patterns

  • Based on repetition of a single motif.

  • Recurring components fit together in a perfect sequence.

  • Built on combinations of repeated squares and circles.

Islamic Calligraphy

  • Artistic practice of handwriting based on the alphabet in Islamic lands.

  • Includes Arabic, Ottoman, and Persian calligraphy.

  • Known as khatt Islami (Islamic line, design, or construction).

  • Strongly tied to the Qur'an; chapters and excerpts are common texts.

  • Reflects the centrality of writing in Islam.

Calligraphy Styles

  • Kufic:

    • Oldest form of Arabic script.

    • Emphasizes rigid and angular strokes.

    • Developed into floral, foliated, plaited, and square varieties.

    • Used in ornamental stone carving and on coins.

  • Naskh:

    • Cursive script that appeared in the 10th century.

    • Used for informal purposes.

Instruments and Media

  • Traditional instrument: qalam (pen made of dried reed or bamboo).

  • Ink is often colored to create dynamism.

  • Applied to various mediums: tiles, vessels, carpets, and stone.

  • Follows established examples, except for secular or contemporary works.

Persian Miniature

  • Painting in illuminated manuscripts.

  • Dominant since the 13th century.

  • Influenced Ottoman and Mughal miniatures.

  • Chinese Influences: Vertical format, bird's-eye view, figures arranged in different planes.

  • Colors are contrasting, bright, and clear.

Islamic Architecture

  • Encompasses secular and religious styles associated with Islam.

  • Developed distinct characteristics with calligraphy and geometric patterns.

  • Principal types: mosque, tomb, palace, and fort.

Characteristic Architectural Elements

  • Paradise Garden:

    • Gardens and water play an essential role.

    • Provide a sensory experience with water and aromatic plants.

    • Gardens are an earthly analogue for life in paradise.

  • Minarets:

    • Towers built into or adjacent to mosques.

    • Used to call the faithful to prayer.

    • Tall spire with a conical or onion-shaped crown.

  • Ornaments:

    • Geometric and interlace patterns, floral motifs (arabesque), and calligraphic inscriptions.

  • Water:

    • Integral part of the landscape for sensory functions.

    • Centrally placed pools and fountains.

    • Serves as physical and emotional cleansing.

  • Dome:

    • Represents the vault of heaven.

    • Cosmic symbol.

Notable Examples

  • Alhambra, Granada: Ancient Arab fortress.

  • Hagia Sophia: Former Greek Orthodox Christian cathedral, later Ottoman mosque, now a museum.

  • Taj Mahal: Ivory-white marble mausoleum in Agra, India.

  • Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque: Mosque in Brunei with marble minarets and golden domes.

  • Jame' Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque: Architectural masterpiece in Brunei with Turkish influences.