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After the twelfth century, Sufism (Islamic mysticism) spread throughout the Islamic world and further enriched Persian poetry, heightening its spiritual content and introducing additional levels of meaning. It became unclear whether poets such as Rumi (died 1273) or Hafiz (died 1390) referred in their verses to earthly or heavenly yearning, or whether they described human or divine union. Similarly, a seventeenth-century painting of a beautiful woman could be seen as a metaphor for human or divine beauty. Much like Persian poetry, many of these images lent themselves to a multiplicity of interpretations, which further enhanced their meaning and significance.
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The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art Exhibition List | Online Exhibitions All presented material is copyright © Smithsonian Institution, 2008 except where otherwise noted. |
