Arabesque –A Form of Islamic Art

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Arabesque –a form of Islamic art Arabesque is art with repeated geometric forms that echo the forms of plants and animals. It is widely used to decorate the walls of mosques and started to spread greatly during the golden age of Islam. It was used since living beings were not permitted to be shown in forms of art. Expressing with Arabesque There are 2 types of arabesque: one expresses the principles that rule the world. In this type, each form has some sort of symbolism that has to do with earth, air, fire, and water. (ex. Square) the second is based on the nature of plants and the feminine nature of giving birth to life. Adding color emphasizes rhythm and harmony. Symbolism and cultural significance of Arabesque Arabesque symbolizes the united faith of Islam and the way of viewing the world. It helped unite Muslims by connecting them through art. Also, order and unity are important valued aspects of community. Islamic art represents the unity by having all styles of Arabesque resemble itself. It is difficult to determine where a certain style of Islamic art has came from since all of them are similar. World at the time of Arabesque During the time of the mid 11th century, the Christian Crusades were attacking and ruling the Islamic World. After being pushed out of the Middle Eastern territory, by Saladin, Europe received much influence from Islam. Other invasions were also occurring during the Golden Age of Islam, which was when Arabesque was at its peak. The rest of the world was experiencing the rise of new cultures such as Christianity, and the Classical Era was long over. During this new era, Islam was spreading. Trade was also rapidly increasing so contacts with other civilizations were frequent. Influences of Arabesque When Islam was spreading, the arts and thoughts of the religion spread as well. As merchants, traders, and scholars traveled to other places, they took the style of Arabesque with them. Architecture with arabesque designs on the walls and floors appeared in Europe, India, and northern Africa. A few examples include: • The Taj Mahal in India, • The Alhambra in Spain, • The Amr Ibn El-Aas in Egypt Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.

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What Is Islamic Art?
What is Islamic art? What do we actually mean by Islamic art? A central feature of Islamic art is its emphasis on crasmanship. Creating a high quality object – something that is a delight to behold – is much more important than producing something new and innovative. Another characteristic of Islamic art is that it does not necessarily tell us anything about the artist’s personal ideas or feelings. Islamic artists and crasmen oen focus on a long, tried-and-true tradition. What is most important is creating something beautiful and well made, oen something with a practical use. In other words, Islamic art largely aims at beautifying everyday life and making utilitarian objects into works of art. en what does “Islamic” have to do with it? At the David Collection, we generally deﬁne Islamic art as works of art produced in the part of the world where the religion of Islam has played a dominant role for a long period of time. ey do not necessarily have to be works of art made by or for Muslims. e artists might also be followers of another religion, for example Christians or Jews. And the message conveyed by their art does not have to directly reﬂect the religion of Islam. It can also have a purely secular character. DURING THE GUIDED TOUR OF THE MUSEUM: When pupils are shown around the museum, the guide will focus on a number of common features of Islamic art: vegetal ornamentation, geometric patterns, calligraphy, and the stylized depiction of reality. Historical aspects will also be dealt with and, depending on the work of art, an object’s function and relevant cultural and historical aspects will be discussed.
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