080099 SE Arts of the Book in Islam, Hands-On (2024W)

The brief title "Book Art in Islam" refers the broad field of the art history of book cultures in the Mediterranean and West Asia. Until the spread of lithography in the nineteenth century, the manuscript copy was the central medium for the dissemination of literature and knowledge through books written in the Arabic script, used for most languages in Islam. Looking to the visual arts of Arabic, Persian and Ottoman manuscripts, we first note book painting: the decorative, illustrative and narrative use of figurative images. Furthermore, visual arts in Arabic-written book cultures include the framing and decorative organisation of book pages, marginal illuminations, the calligraphy of the script, and the often elaborately designed binding.

The course, organised in cooperation with the Austrian National Library (ÖNB), introduces students to the study of book art in Islam and the handling of works using original Arabic, Persian, Ottoman and Mughal Indian illuminated manuscripts. We will select particular manuscripts at the beginning of the course, taking into account the interests and wishes of the participants.

The aim is to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge that enables students to understand and pursue questions of research on book painting and book art. This also includes codicology, binding, paper and writing - yet the focus is on book painting and art historical questions. A central question remains the function of images in manuscripts. In the first units, you will learn methods, tools and the history of research and become familiar with selected questions that will be pursued in the seminar. You will practise your first independent handling of manuscripts using printed and digital facsimiles. You will study an original of your choice from the ÖNB in two half-day blocks in the Augustinian Reading Room. Your task will be to follow an aspect of the work relevant to art history with the help of specialist literature and guidance from the lecturer.

The seminar is aimed at anyone with interest in book painting and book arts. A basic knowledge of book cultures in Islam or Europe is helpful, such as through a successfully completed lecture course or other teaching. Knowledge of Arabic script and of the languages of Islam is not required (though welcome).