I can hardly look at an orientalist painting without inwardly cringing as I recall professors drumming the lessons of Edward Said into us during sophomore year...
Nevertheless, I love these portraits by Spanish orientalist Jose Tapiro y Baro, courtesy of the Orientalist Gallery.
Nevertheless, I love these portraits by Spanish orientalist Jose Tapiro y Baro, courtesy of the Orientalist Gallery.
A Tangerine Beauty
Profile at the Beach
Viejo Moro
Moor in a HeadressI'm not sure why the men look so bedraggled but the Tangerine woman truly is a marvel. She and the old man are by far my favorites of this set.
The tableaus of a blackamoor astride a tiger with a saber at his hip just make me laugh, while most odalisques leave me cold - except Matisse, but he's in another category altogether. But image that look like artists actually spent time in the "exotic" destinations they depict, that evidence their care for detail and authenticity, and that portray a great deal of life and emotion in their subjects, these I adore.
What do you think of Orientalist art?
The tableaus of a blackamoor astride a tiger with a saber at his hip just make me laugh, while most odalisques leave me cold - except Matisse, but he's in another category altogether. But image that look like artists actually spent time in the "exotic" destinations they depict, that evidence their care for detail and authenticity, and that portray a great deal of life and emotion in their subjects, these I adore.
What do you think of Orientalist art?
3 comments:
I want to borrow the Tangerine lady's outfit!
I suspect Orientalism is live and well but doesn't look quite the same any more.
I love orientalist paintings . I used to sell a lot in my shop ..now a little bit less but anyway I collect them , My living room is full of them
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