Eid Al-Fitr – Islamic Prayer in Art
The distinctive ritual of Islamic prayer, known as namaz (in Urdu) or salah (in Arabic) has captivated the imagination of many Orientalist painters.
Maya M. Tola 10 April 2024
#orientalism
Masterpiece Story: Cleopatra by Alexandre Cabanel
Queen Cleopatra is a popular subject today – as she was in the late 19th century. Alexandre Cabanel’s Cleopatra explores a single moment of her...
James W Singer 3 March 2024
Masterpiece Story: The Obsequies of an Egyptian Cat by John Weguelin
Here is a Masterpiece Story to honor our beloved cats. The Obsequies of an Egyptian Cat by John Weguelin presents an imaginative interpretation of an...
Alexandra Kiely 17 February 2024
An Ode to Sellers: Commerce in Art
Artists have frequently critiqued, celebrated, and commented on the role of sellers, shedding light on the multifaceted role commerce plays in...
Maya M. Tola 18 December 2023
Osman Hamdi: The First and Last Ottoman Orientalist
The first and last Orientalist painter of the Ottoman Empire is Osman Hamdi Bey. Born in modern-day Turkey, educated in Paris, and highly regarded as...
Irina Diana Calu 11 December 2023
The History of Folding Screens—A Stunning Exhibition in Milan
The exhibition, Paraventi: Folding Screens from the 17th to 21st Centuries at Milan’s Fondazione Prada, will be on view until February 22nd,...
Lisa Scalone 23 November 2023
Vasily Vereshchagin – Journey through India
Vasily Vereshchagin was a notable Russian soldier, artist, and writer from the 19th century. He was an outspoken critic of war who reformed the genre...
Maya M. Tola 17 November 2023
The Orientalism of Eugène Delacroix – Beware of the Colors!
Eugène Delacroix was a French artist who was seen as the leader of the French Romantic school of art from the beginning of his career. 19th-century...
Zuzanna Stańska 26 April 2023
An Orientalist from the Orient: Theodoros Rallis
Not every Orientalist painter journeyed to the Orient or the Levant to observe and interact with the socio-cultural fabric they intended to portray...
Erol Degirmenci 3 November 2022
Orientalism – Quick Explanation
19th-century Europeans were fascinated by the Near East and North Africa. Everything began roughly around the time of the Napoleonic invasion of...
Magda Michalska 3 November 2022
Memoirs of India by Edwin Lord Weeks
Edwin Lord Weeks was a remarkable American painter and one of the most celebrated Orientalists of his time. He lived a coveted life of travel and...
Maya M. Tola 24 October 2022
Le Mayeur and the Island of Gods
Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, better known as Jean Le Mayeur was a skilled Impressionist who was active around the early 20th century.
Maya M. Tola 5 September 2022
