IAA747 Figural Representation in Islamic Art

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course surveys the development of figural representation in Islamic art across a wide range of artistic media. It examines the production, function, and reception of images in manuscripts, portable objects, and architectural contexts, with particular attention to the relationship between text and image in illustrated manuscripts. Through selected case studies, students will explore diverse modes of visual representation, narrative strategies, iconography, and patronage, while considering the social, cultural, and religious contexts in which images were created and viewed. The course also addresses major scholarly debates concerning the role and meaning of figural imagery in Islamic visual culture.