Islamic ArtCirca 600-1500 CE

• Muhammad, who started the Islamic faith was born in 570 AD or CE.

• Islamic Art has an Oriental or Eastern influence.

• Islamic art is noted for the designs of their carpets, pottery and tile work.

• They are decorated with geometric patterns…

…Vegetal patterns (or patterns from plants)

…and calligraphy patterns (designs that use Arabic writing)

But you will rarely see human figures.

While not prohibited, human and animal figures were not used in religious art or in some Islamic cultures. A rare court painting above.

Horror Vacui

• Horror Vacui is a term used to describe Muslim art, it means “a fear of empty space”.

Most Islamic art is symmetrical, some patterns show complicated mathematical concepts.