How to Look at a Naked Lady

The Tomb of Hafez

Nigel Bruce

• 1 min read

Islamic art and architecture are consistently under-appreciated in the West, not least of all because of the misunderstanding over why people or God are not to be shown in art, because that's considered idolatry. Is seeing believing? Does believing require seeing? Do we see everything we believe in? Should we believe everything we see? 

Roof-of-Hafez-tomb
Photo: Pentocelo

Above is one of my favorite images, the enameled tiles mosaic on the roof of the pavilion of the tomb of Hafez in Shiraz, Iran. Below is the pavilion itself. Hafez lived 1315–1390.

Tomb-of-Hafez
Photo: Amirskipa