Re: I'd be quite interested to hear about Orientalist artwork

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright-Jones on July 25, 2004 at 21:59:45:

In reply to: I'd be quite interested to hear about Orientalist artwork posted by Elettaria on July 25, 2004 at 21:07:53:

You can read some interesting discourses of women and sexual fantasies
from Orientalist artwork .... well, the bearded dude stroking his
scimitar for a start. I adore Orientalist art, always have, because
the fantasies are so transparent. Heck, I'm an artist, and that's what
speaks to me. And, sometimes you can find some henna.

Last summer when I had the rapture of spending 6 weeks at the British
Library, I could compare photographs to drawings of people "over
there" in the 19th century and .... wow. That's when it really jumps
out at you .. European fantasies (both positive and negative) of
"Oriental" women vs ... what was there. They sketched when they were
traveling, because skechbooks were what they could carry. They came
home with a trunk of clothing, draped it on models back home and ...
everything changed.

If you look at the work of artists who traveled, then, came back and
painted, you can see their reinvention of what they saw. Kinda like
... what people think life in Las Vegas must be like, as opposed to my
daughter's view of ... what its like to live there.

If you start looking at Orientalist stuff, do avoid Malek Alloulah,
"The Colonial Harem". That man is just drowning in Said and is
frikkin unreadable. Get the book for the pics if you want, but skip
the verbiage. Gawdawful.

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: You can read some interesting discourses of women and sexual fantasies : from Orientalist artwork .... well, the bearded dude stroking his : scimitar for a start. I adore Orientalist art, always have, because : the fantasies are so transparent. Heck, I'm an artist, and that's what : speaks to me. And, sometimes you can find some henna. : : Last summer when I had the rapture of spending 6 weeks at the British : Library, I could compare photographs to drawings of people "over : there" in the 19th century and .... wow. That's when it really jumps : out at you .. European fantasies (both positive and negative) of : "Oriental" women vs ... what was there. They sketched when they were : traveling, because skechbooks were what they could carry. They came : home with a trunk of clothing, draped it on models back home and ... : everything changed. : : If you look at the work of artists who traveled, then, came back and : painted, you can see their reinvention of what they saw. Kinda like : ... what people think life in Las Vegas must be like, as opposed to my : daughter's view of ... what its like to live there. : : If you start looking at Orientalist stuff, do avoid Malek Alloulah, : "The Colonial Harem". That man is just drowning in Said and is : frikkin unreadable. Get the book for the pics if you want, but skip : the verbiage. Gawdawful.
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