Islamic restriction on art?

[JockSporran]

Is it true that Islam does not permit depiction of the human body in art?

[plowter]

Am sure that's not true because there are many examples of human figures throughout the centuries.

Think the point is that depicting human figures for worship, such as idols, is forbidden. So no images of god.

As for images of Marilyn Monroe, would that be art or worship?

[heathfield]

It's true for certain sects of Islam, (as it was originally for Celtic Christianity). It's the reason so many paintings and statues in Egypt and the Mediterranian area are damaged - they were disfigured by Moslems as the religion spread in the Middle Ages.
Things are more relaxed these days, but some will still not even allow their photo to be taken, as they consider that it reproduces the human form.