Inspiration Islam – European artists in dialogue with Islamic art and culture.

The art and architecture of the Islamic world strongly influenced the development of Western modernism. Some 170 works from the mid-19th century to the present day illustrate this fascinating cultural exchange. Beguiling examples of fine and decorative art reflect the diversity of this lively transfer.

During the 19th century, Europe became caught up not only in Orientalism, but also in a real “Islamophilia”. Important collections of Islamic art were established. With the approach of modernism the view of these “foreign” influences changed. Artists of the avant-garde and masters of applied art sought inspiration for their own new style in the wealth of formal language and colourfulness characterized by Islamicate art. Positions of contemporary art to current Islamic discourse round out this multi-faceted publication.

ARTISTS INCLUDE: Nevin Aladag | Baltensperger and Siepert | Marwan Bassiouni | Carlo Bugatti | Théodore Deck | Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo | Osman Hamdi Bey | Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann | Wassily Kandinsky | Gulsun Karamustafa | Bouchra Khalili | Paul Klee | J.& L. Lobmeyr | Henri Matisse | Gabriele Munter | Lotte Reiniger et. al.