Artists

Pablo Picasso and Islamic Art: A Journey of Influence and Inspiration

Explore works from Pablo Picasso and how his art has been influenced by Islamic arts, particularly calligraphy.

Goldframer

13 Aug 2024 — 5 min read

Partition, bottle of port, guitar, Playing cards by Picasso

Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, is renowned for his pioneering contributions to modern art, particularly through the Cubist movement. However, his connection with Islamic art, particularly calligraphy, is a lesser-known but fascinating aspect of his artistic journey.

Early Influences and Enduring Fascination

Born in Málaga, a city in Andalusia, Spain, Picasso grew up surrounded by the rich Moorish heritage of the region. Andalusia, with its centuries-old Islamic art and architecture, left a deep imprint on Picasso, and arguably influenced his art. The intricate geometric patterns and abstract forms prevalent in Islamic art would later resonate in his works, creating a seamless blend with his revolutionary interpretation of art.

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Calligraphy as The Art of the Word

Islamic calligraphy, an art form that adorns and beautifies writing, captivated Picasso. He admired the aesthetic beauty and the abstract nature of calligraphic scripts. Reflecting on his admiration, he once remarked, "Had I known there was such a thing as Islamic calligraphy, I would never have taken up painting". This statement has underscored his profound appreciation for the art form, which he considered on par with the most sophisticated of visual arts.

His fascination with calligraphy is evident in several of his works as well. His collaboration with poet Pierre Reverdy on the book "Le Chant des Morts" (The Song of the Dead) features a series of drawings that reflect the fluidity and abstraction that are characteristic to Islamic calligraphy. These works, through their simultaneous management of connectedness and diversity of form, showcase how Picasso melded certain understandings of traditional calligraphic forms with his modernist sensibilities within visual arts.

Picasso’s work in *Le Chant des Morts**, 1948*

Contributions to Ilia Zdanevich's "Afat"

Picasso's exploration of Islamic calligraphy is also notably present in his work for Ilia Zdanevich's book, "Afat: Soixante-seize sonnets" (Afat: Seventy-six Sonnets.) In this collaboration, Picasso produced a series of Arabic calligraphic pieces that complement Zdanevich's poetry. These works were the embodiment of the harmony between visual art and literary expression, and proved integral to the expression and rhythm of the text. It is in this way that Picasso's calligraphic contributions to "Afat" have demonstrated a deep engagement with international art, and an ability to transcend cultural boundaries.

The Impact of Geometric Patterns

Islamic art is renowned for its intricate geometric patterns. These patterns are meant to lack figural representation due to religious prohibitions against idolatry. Picasso's Cubist works, with their fragmented forms and abstracted shapes, bear parallels to the geometry of these designs, and his ability to deconstruct objects into geometric forms can be seen as a modern interpretation that brings to mind the abstract nature of Islamic art.

In iconic pieces like "Guernica," Picasso employs a visual language that echoes the complexity and abstraction of Islamic geometric art. The patterns and abstraction in these works highlight a conceptual alignment with Islamic art.

Picasso's Personal Reflections

Picasso often spoke about the influence of Islamic art on his work. He admired the dynamism and abstract quality of Islamic calligraphy, and this admiration was reflected in his conversations with contemporary artists. Turkish artists such as Nurullah Berk and Hasan Kavruk, who visited Picasso in Paris, recounted how he urged them to embrace their own rich tradition of Islamic art rather than merely imitating Western styles. Picasso famously remarked, "Your calligraphy has achieved what we modern artists strive for".

Nurullah Berk, a prominent Turkish painter, recalled how Picasso questioned why Turkish artists were trying to emulate Western art when they had such a rich heritage of their own in Islamic calligraphy. Hasan Kavruk, another influential Turkish artist, also shared a similar experience, where Picasso advised him to return to Turkiye and study the traditional Islamic arts, particularly calligraphy.

Islamic calligraphy by Hulusi Yazgan, 1915-1916

Bridging Islamic Calligraphy and Gertrude Stein's "Tender Buttons" Through Picasso

The influence of Islamic calligraphy on Picasso extends beyond visual art to intersect with literature, particularly through his association with Gertrude Stein. Stein, an avant-garde writer, was deeply influenced by Picasso's integration of calligraphic elements into his art. In her seminal work, "Tender Buttons," Stein explores the abstraction of language in a manner akin to the abstraction seen in Islamic calligraphy.

Stein's engagement with Picasso's art, especially his calligraphic works, provided her with a new lens to view the written word. She admired how Picasso could transform words into visual art, a concept she incorporated into her own literary experiments.

Concluding Insights

Pablo Picasso's engagement with Islamic art, particularly calligraphy, reveals a fascinating dialogue between Western modernism and Eastern artistic traditions. His works stand as a testament to the profound impact that the abstract forms and intricate patterns of Islamic art had on his creative vision. By integrating these elements into his unique style, Picasso not only paid homage to a rich cultural heritage but also expanded the horizons of modern art, demonstrating the timeless and universal nature of artistic inspiration. Besides, his influence on literary figures like Gertrude Stein underscored the interdisciplinary impact of his artistic innovations, linking the spheres of visual arts and literature.