This example of Islamic art was done in the around the year 1540. There are six tiles that compose a repeating pattern of flowers. In Islamic mosques and places of worship, animals and human figures were not permitted as acceptable forms of art since they were seen as idols. However, it was not uncommon for human figures and animals to be depicted in art outside of the traditional Muslim places of worship. This piece shows a repeating pattern of the same plant and is done in shades of blue to make it appear that it is night time. This flower is not fairly naturalistic, but not quite right. The flowers are too large if this plant is a tree and too abundant if this plant is a non woody stemmed species. I am impressed that there are some neighboring plants shown next to the main one. This might just be the fear of empty space, but it could also show the plants that grew next to each other and a small picture of a larger ecosystem. This plant may be a fruit tree because of its blossoms, but is also valued for its aesthetic qualities since it is being repeated so often.
Salām Lauren!
ReplyDeleteMay I ask where you got that blue image of Islamic flower art? Did you scan it from a book or photograph the actual tiles? I'm asking, because I find it beautiful, and I wonder where one can get more such images!