Islamic art and ornamentation: Reflections on the study of art from Alois Riegl to Ernst Gombrich and beyond
Author
Şentürk, Murat Kenan
Advisor
Johnson, Lewis Keir
Date
2000Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
In this study certain arguments about two different but
related phenomena are presented: Islamic art and
ornamentation. The problem of maintaining a relevant
definition for both cases is emphasized by giving
examples of diverse and even opposing explanations. For
ornamentation, the work of two art historians. Alios
Riegl and Ernst Gombrich is elaborated and the
differences in their approach to ornamentation are tried
to be shown. In order to understand the issue of Islamic
ornament, first the discussions about the term Islamic
art are given, then the place of ornamentation in
Islamic art is argued by taking arabesque as an example
case. Finally the possibilities of experiencing the
artwork in such a situation which the plurality of
approaches that may subject to contradict each other
exist, are investigated. The ambiguity of Islamic
ornamentation is expected 'to give way to an inquiry
about the nature of artwork.