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Arabic Geometrical Pattern and Design
By forbidding the representation of the human figure, the Mohammedan religion helped push Islamic art along a path much different from that of traditional European art. European abounds with perspective renderings of figures and landscapes, while Islamic translates artistic impulse into elaborate geometric patterns and linear designs. Through centuries of practicing this purely abstract art, Muslim artists have perfected it to an incomparable elegance.
This book contains 190 examples exhibiting the wide range of Islamic geometrical hexagon designs, octagon designs, dodecagon designs, combinations of stars and rosettes (of many variations), combinations of squares and octagons, heptagon designs, and pentagon designs. These fundamental shapes give rise to hundreds of different designs, and merely altering an angle or curving a straight line can create an entirely new pattern. When transferred to metal, wood, stucco, mosaic, and paint, these patterns make up the elaborate ornamentation for which Arabic architecture is noted, and twenty-eight examples of actual applications from Cairo and Damascus are sanctuary doors, openwork windows, inlaid marble pavements, and ceilings.
The reader may wish to try his own hand at drawing patterns, to which purpose dotted construction lines are given for sections of the plates. Artists and designers will appreciate this book as a valuable source for Islamic art and design, which they may use directly or vary at will, and with the added use of color they will find that striking and beautiful results can often be achieved.
This book contains 190 examples exhibiting the wide range of Islamic geometrical hexagon designs, octagon designs, dodecagon designs, combinations of stars and rosettes (of many variations), combinations of squares and octagons, heptagon designs, and pentagon designs. These fundamental shapes give rise to hundreds of different designs, and merely altering an angle or curving a straight line can create an entirely new pattern. When transferred to metal, wood, stucco, mosaic, and paint, these patterns make up the elaborate ornamentation for which Arabic architecture is noted, and twenty-eight examples of actual applications from Cairo and Damascus are sanctuary doors, openwork windows, inlaid marble pavements, and ceilings.
The reader may wish to try his own hand at drawing patterns, to which purpose dotted construction lines are given for sections of the plates. Artists and designers will appreciate this book as a valuable source for Islamic art and design, which they may use directly or vary at will, and with the added use of color they will find that striking and beautiful results can often be achieved.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 4, 2017
هذا الكتاب هو المرجع الأكبر في فن الزخارف الهندسية الإسلامية
190 لوحة تكشف عبقرية الفنان المسلم، الذي لم يعوقه تحريم الإسلام للتصوير عن تفجير طاقاته الإبداعية
دقة وإتقان لا يضاهى، وتنوع شديد الثراء يترك المشاهد حيرانًا لا يدري كيف تسنى لهم كل هذا الإبداع بأدوات لا تتجاوز القلم والمسطرة والبرجل!
ليس في الكتاب أي نص سوى مقدمة موجزة من صفحة واحدة، وهذا يحسب للمؤلف فهو لم يذهب يفسر الفن الإسلامي في ضوء خبرته الغربية كما فعل بعض المستشرقين، وإنما جل ما أراد قوله أن هذا هو الفن الإسلامي، تأملوا وتعجبوا!
190 لوحة تكشف عبقرية الفنان المسلم، الذي لم يعوقه تحريم الإسلام للتصوير عن تفجير طاقاته الإبداعية
دقة وإتقان لا يضاهى، وتنوع شديد الثراء يترك المشاهد حيرانًا لا يدري كيف تسنى لهم كل هذا الإبداع بأدوات لا تتجاوز القلم والمسطرة والبرجل!
ليس في الكتاب أي نص سوى مقدمة موجزة من صفحة واحدة، وهذا يحسب للمؤلف فهو لم يذهب يفسر الفن الإسلامي في ضوء خبرته الغربية كما فعل بعض المستشرقين، وإنما جل ما أراد قوله أن هذا هو الفن الإسلامي، تأملوا وتعجبوا!
July 1, 2018
Has lots of ideas for designers, not a lot else.
December 31, 2019
A must have book for any designer that interested in learning and creating islamic geometry pattern.
July 24, 2020
A basic peek into the structure of arabic and geometric designs. Perfect for beginners.
February 17, 2014
Apart from one page of text - the publisher's note - this book is almost entirely devoted to the geometric matrixes used in tile-making etc That's very useful if you are a geometric tile-maker, geometric mural designer or whatever but is of limited use for artists working in other fields. A typical page is made up of one or two design matrixes - which are accurate line drawings with some indication of underlying geometry to help you set out the design for yourself. It would be inaccurate to really call these 'art' as they are more along the lines of 'practical models'. I used some of these basic designs to do some painted murals which worked out well.
Right at the end of the book there are 10 plates (black and white) that show some applied designs. These you could certainly call 'art' even if they lack colour.
Right at the end of the book there are 10 plates (black and white) that show some applied designs. These you could certainly call 'art' even if they lack colour.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews