The human figure in Islamic art: holy men, princes, and commoners

Abstract

'The Human Figure in Islamic Art' is the book behind the exhibition of the same name that will open at the David Collection on November 24, 2017. The book - like the exhibition - focuses on an unusually and rarely elucidated subject in the world of Islamic art: human depictions. The Human Figure in Islamic Art presents 75 important works from the David Collection, all of them focused on the human gure. The book describes how, despite this reluctance, portraying human figures has nonetheless always played an important role in Islamic art. The human figure is found on many kinds of utility ware, but the motif also has a long and rich tradition especially in miniature painting. The paintings in the book largely feature princes, but also holy men and quite ordinary people in the form of illustrations for works of fiction, depictions of real-life events, and true portraits. Exhibition: David Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark (24.11.2017-13.05.2018).

Contents

Foreword / Kjeld von Folsach -- The human figure in Islamic art : the religious injunctions / Joachim Meyer -- The human figure in Islamic art : from generic depictions to portraits / Kjeld von Folsach -- Human figures in the modern Muslim world / Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen -- Catalogue -- Figurative depictions and oppositions to them / Joachim Meyer -- Ornament, decoration, and symbol / Kjeld von Folsach -- Scientific illustrations and other uses for miniature painting / Kjeld von Folsach -- The religious sphere / Joachim Meyer -- The prince and the court / Kjeld von Folsach -- Love / Joachim Meyer -- Depictions of women / Joachim Meyer -- Depictions of everyday life / Joachim Meyer -- Exotic and supernatural beings / Joachim Meyer.