Lost Histories of a Licit Figural Art

Abstract

The idea that theology is either irrelevant to artistic production or “a baleful influence” on its history has recently been critically explored by Jeffrey Hamburger, in relation to medieval Christian art. Engaging the perennial problem of moving between immaterial concepts, normative texts, and material things, Hamburger's observations resonate with the long shadow cast by the Bilderverbot, the prohibition of images often assumed to characterize Islamic and Jewish cultures, on the modern reception of Islamic art.

On Islam and Portraiture: Lithography, Glass Painting, and Photography in Senegal

“…The study of images in Islam should take into consideration particular socio-political circumstances, regional and historical specificities, and most crucially 'the middle ground of compromise and negotiation' in attitudes to figuration. 5 This article takes up Flood's invitation by examining the popularization of the genre of portraiture in Senegal through media such as print and glass painting between the 1910s and the 1950s, that is, before photography became 'a social imperative'. 6 In this article, I will not only provide evidence that, in Senegal, Islam tolerated images, thus challenging its presumed categorical opposition to all figuration or Bilderverbot.…”

Las estatuas también mueren. Patrimonio, museos y memorias en el punto de mira de DAESH

“…Ejemplos de ellos son habituales. En torno al debate sobre la imagen en el islam (Naef 2007;Flood 2002Flood , 2013Flood y 2016Ali 2015;Gruber, 2019).…”