Western Painting - Orientalism - Eastern Style the Western Way

Orientalism - The History

Orientalism is a word, derived from the Latin word 'Orient,' meaning east. By the end of the eighteenth century, French and British colonies started to come up in various Eastern countries, such as Egypt, Africa, Persia, Iraq, Arabia, Palestine, Turkey, and Lebanon. Many artists and writers traveled to these countries in search of new subjects and stimulation. The paintings inspired by the Eastern and Mediterranean cultures were termed as Orientalist. Orientalist paintings held a mysterious charm for the West and were an instant success in the Western Art world. These paintings were not just beautiful pieces of art, but were also a glimpse for the West, into the exotic lives of the Easterners.

Orientalists works were so awe inspiring that it influenced many great French painters to create works of oriental themes even though they had never really left Europe. This gave birth to the Orientalism, which lasted for up to a century. Upcoming painters used writings, photographs, letters, and other forms of recordings of people who had visited the Eastern countries.

Orientalist Examples

Paintings, such as "The Women of Algiers" (1834) by Eugene Delacroix, "Albanian Dancers" (1835) by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps, "Two Young Constantine Jewesses Rocking a Child" (1851) by Theodore Chasseriau, "The Turkish Bath" (1862) by J.A.D. Ingres, "The Shadow of Death" (1871) by William Holman Hunt, and "Complicity" (1875) by Jean-Leon Gerome are amongst the most famous Orientalist works. All of these painters were considered as true Orientalists, because they had traveled to the East and captured their subjects with amazing precision.

Orientalism - The Details

Orientalist paintings were generally made using stunning vibrant colors. The subjects of Orientalist paintings varied form merchants and rulers to slaves and odalisques, from wars and street life to praying rituals. The Orientalists even captured the vegetation of the land and the opulent decorative interiors of their harems and palaces. In fact, harems and baths were the most prominent subjects of the Orientalism era. The authenticity of the behaviors presented in these paintings was however questionable.

As per Islamic rules, men were banned from visiting these places, therefore; most of the artists relied on hearsay and their imaginative best to depict them. These sometimes-lascivious illustrations stirred quite a controversy in the later years, as it was believed that these paintings portrayed the Turks and Arabs as lawless, self-indulgent barbarians. Edward Said a literary theorist wrote a book on Orientalism in 1978, which was highly critical of Orientalists, as he felt that their depictions were based on Imperialists propaganda and prejudiced perceptions rather than complete, actual facts.

Conclusion

Orientalism, as an art movement, can be directly accredited to western colonization in the east. The sumptuous and enchanting works of the Orientalists have been ever fascinating for the art world.

Source : Ezinearticles