The Art of Islam at The Met and The Louvre: Foreign Yet Familiar

Today, at a pivotal moment in world history, two great museums beckon us to explore the splendor of Islamic art -- lifting the veil on our shared cultural heritage. The objects on display in the Islamic galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York -- and The Louvre in Paris -- reveal a roadmap of connections. This explains why the “foreign” seems familiar.  The art of Islam reflects 14 centuries of changing political and cultural landscapes -- across three continents.

The term “Islamic art” – coined by 19th-century art historians – includes ALL ART produced in Muslim lands from the 7th century forward, from Spain to Morocco, Egypt, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India, to the borders of China. Universal museums like The Louvre and The Metropolitan help dispel the idea that cultures are exclusive, when in fact, they are intertwined.