Rug
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
is
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Art

‘Rug is Art’ is a deep dive into Persian rugs and classical paintings, revealing their mesmerizing parallels.
It’s about stories in knots and brushstrokes, each weaving a tale as rich as the other.
This journey celebrates their timeless beauty, artistry, and shared heritage, showing how these masterpieces of design capture hearts across time.
Rug is Art

The Smile

Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci

Rug is Art

The Animal

The Pazyryk Rug

Rug is Art

The Hand

Salvador Mundi

Rug is Art

The Tree

The Tree of Life

Threads of History

Rug & Painting
Through Time

Let's take a trip back in time. The inception of Persian rugs goes way back to ancient Persia. It's a tale of art evolving over the centuries. Now, picture this alongside painting, it started from caves and landed in our homes. True art always evolves. Rug is art as it simply evolves. Both art forms have been evolving shoulder to shoulder like siblings for thousands of years. Art changes, grows, and connects us all.

Tapestries of Meaning

Symbolism in Rugs
and Paintings

Persian rugs and paintings are not just art, they're stories woven and painted in shared symbols. Animals or motifs, each with its own tale, are more than just pretty objects, they're languages in knots and strokes, echoing universal themes. 
  • Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art

In Persian rugs, lions roar with bravery, deer prance with grace, birds soar with spirit.

Paintings echo the same meaning, each animal adding its own vibe – lions for guts, deer for calm, birds for rising above. It’s not just decor, it’s a tale of symbols.

Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art

In the world of art, eagles and trees reign. Eagles, with their freedom and power, stand as guardians in Persian rugs and as symbols of liberty in paintings.

Trees link earth and heaven in rugs, while in paintings, they’re all about life and growth, bridging the physical and spiritual.

Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art
Rug is Art

Crafting Beauty

Materials & Techniques
in Rugs & Paintings

Rug is Art
Impressionist painting is created with quick, visible brushstrokes creating movement and life. Pure 19th-century genius.
Rug is Art
Rug weavers use a variety of knotting techniques to create different textures and patterns. They have a technique similar to impressionism - each knot’s a brushstroke, crafting textures and patterns full of life and detail.
Rug is Art

→ Turkish (symmetric) knot

Rug is Art

→ Variants of the “Jufti” Knot woven around four warps

Rug is Art

→ Spanish knot or single-warp knot

Rug is Art

→ Diagonal, or offset, knotting

Rug is Art

→ Weaving with one warp depressed

Rug is Art

→ Persian (asymmetric) knot, open to the right

Painters and rug weavers mix techniques for diverse effects.
Amazingly, their final works echo each other’s brilliance.
Rug is Art

→ Claude Monet

Rug is Art

→ A traditional rug

How’d artists, 200 years ago, in different places, nail similar feats in two mediums? Mind-blowing!

Palette of Emotions

Color Use
in Rugs & Paintings

Colors in both Persian rugs and paintings, from Renaissance to modern styles, are pivotal in evoking emotions and symbolizing themes like wealth, divinity, calmness, and nature.

Grey Blue

Soft. Balanced. Dreamy.
Grey blue is the space between thoughts—a color that breathes.
It evokes clarity, peace, and a sense of gentle modernity.
Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko (ish) Rug

Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko Painting

Brown

Warm. Grounded. Familiar.
Brown evokes the feeling of comfort—like a warm hug from a space you trust.
It brings nature indoors and roots your home in timeless calm.
Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko (ish) Rug

Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko Painting

Red

Bold. Passionate. Alive.
Red stirs the soul, igniting energy and confidence wherever it lays.
It turns your space into a story worth hearing.
Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko (ish) Rug

Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko Painting

Purple

Mysterious. Artistic. Regal.
Purple evokes introspection and quiet luxury, like a poem woven in silk.
It’s for those who want their home to whisper rather than shout.
Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko (ish) Rug

Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko Painting

Orange

Joyful. Playful. Energizing.
Orange is a burst of optimism—sunshine for your floors.
It radiates warmth and creativity, lifting moods instantly.
Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko (ish) Rug

Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko Painting

Dark Blue

Deep. Reflective. Sophisticated.
Dark blue brings emotional depth, like staring into a quiet midnight sky.
It’s serenity in color form—elegant, calming, and endlessly cool.
Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko (ish) Rug

Rug is Art

→ Marc Rothko Painting

Mark Rothko is a legend in modern art. He did not just paint; he tapped into our soul. Those big, bold color blocks of his, they're a journey into something deeper, more emotional. Unsurprisingly, in weaving rugs, colors are utilized to convey a spiritual experience.
The question arises: Did this color technique, as evident here, inspire Rothko? According to myths: Yes!
Rug is Art

→ Antique Chinese Rug

Rug is Art

→ Chinese Painting

Can you tell if it’s a rug or a painting? Sometimes, the difference is only in the medium.

Before modernism, the line between painting and rug design was often blurred. Without context, a rug’s detail could be mistaken for a classical painting.

Take Chinese art—both in silk scrolls and hand-knotted rugs, the dragon appears with the same grace and symbolism. Ink or wool, the message remains: power, protection, and beauty.

Contemporary Reflections

Modern Art Inspired
by Persian Rug

In the early 20th century, as the art world began to move away from traditional representations and embrace abstraction and non-representational forms, artists sought new sources of inspiration.
Persian rugs provided a unique departure from conventional artistic references.
They offered a fascinating blend of tradition and innovation, with their geometric abstractions and harmonious color combinations. 

Wassily Kandinsky

One of the most notable artists influenced by Persian rugs was Wassily Kandinsky, a pioneer of abstract art. Kandinsky was drawn to the way Persian rugs used color and shape to create a sense of spirituality and emotional resonance. He believed that art could communicate on a deeper, non-representational level, much like the way Persian rugs conveyed meaning through their abstract patterns.
Rug is Art

→ Kandinsky

Rug is Art

→ Kandinsky

Rug is Art

→ Frank Stella “STAR OF PERSIA I” 1967

Rug is Art

→ Frank Stella - Protractor Variation I - 1968

Rug is Art

→ Paul Klee, Revolution of the Viaduct - 1937

Rug is Art

→ Paul Klee, Twittering Machine - 1922

Other modern artists, including Paul Klee and Frank Stella, also drew inspiration from Persian rugs in their work.
Not only have Persian rugs played a significant role in shaping modern art, but they have also been a source of inspiration in other fields, such as fashion. From Gucci to Hermès, they were inspired by the creative ways in which Persian rugs convey meaning.

→ Hermès Fashion Show - 2013

The Enduring Legacy of Rugs & Paintings

It’s Your Turn

As you know by now, rugs, especially those Persian masterpieces, they’re not just floor decor. They’re muses in their own right, inspiring all sorts of art forms, like painting. Think of the stories, the colors, the life they bring.
Now, it’s your turn.
  • Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art
  • Rug is Art

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