In the Name of the Image: Figurative Representation in Islamic and Christian Cultures

The aesthetic and cultural intersections of Christian and Islamic art

The overlap between art and religion represents one of humanity’s most fundamental driving forces: a desire to interpret the world around us and to communicate that interpretation to others. The symbolism used in a specific society’s art is reflective of its values, ideologies and self-image.
In the Name of the Image compares and contrasts Christianity and Islam through the lens of art history, examining the prevailing aesthetic traditions of each. Both religions have fluctuated between the extremes of idolatry and iconoclasm while simultaneously seeking a conciliatory balance, an endeavor that is expressed through their respective arts.
Richly illustrated and thoroughly researched, In the Name of the Image provides perspective on these two major world religions, exploring their surprising overlaps and their meaningful distinctions.