Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 37

Islamic art - Mediums of Islamic art

An essentially ornamental and abstract style of art, in contrast to the Christian emphasis on figurative art, created largely in the service of the Islamic religion. It began in the 7th-c and spread W to Spain and E to India and China.

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Islamic art is a broad term used for works of art, often created by Muslims, influenced by the Islamic cultures of the various Muslim countries. Though the traditions that make up the techniques and philosophy of Islamic artworks are derived from Islamic ideas, works categorised as Islamic art are not necessarily religious in their use or significance;

Mediums of Islamic art

Islamic art, a part of the Islamic studies, has throughout history been mainly abstract and decorative, portraying geometric, floral, Arabesque, and calligraphic designs. Unlike the strong tradition of portraying the human figure in Christian art, many Muslim cultures, as a rule, did not include depictions of human beings.

Islamic art is usually centered around Allah, and since Allah cannot be represented by imagery ["All you believe him to be, he is not"], geometric patterns are used.

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Islamic philosophy - Definition, Introduction, Formative influences, Early and Classical Islamic philosophy, Later Islamic philosophy, Modern Islamic philosophy [next] [back] Islamic architecture - Influences and styles, Interpretation, Architecture of mosques and buildings in Muslim countries, Elements of Islamic style